AMMAN — An
increasing number of former ministers and senior government employees have come
out to criticize what has leaked, so far, of the work of the intergovernmental
committee responsible for presenting recommendations on modernizing the public
sector.
اضافة اعلان
The government is yet to set a date for the
unveiling of the full plan.
Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh said on Tuesday
that “the public sector development plan is not a holy book, and is subject to
correction and amendment”.
Khasawneh, who was speaking at the Ideal Employee
Award ceremony, added that the government is aware of the criticism of the
public sector modernization plan, adding that the merger of some ministries
will take from two to four years.
The prime minister indicated that the plan is bound
to boost and keep pace with the change in government management methods, which
will reflect on its performance and the level of services provided to citizens.
Khasawneh’s remarks, however, may not end the public
uproar over some suggestions, like the abolishment of the Ministry of Labor,
while keeping most independent commissions, which number over 50, intact.
Former head of the
Civil Service Bureau Mazen
Al-Nasser said that the modernization of the public sector is based on the
premise that Jordan is a state of laws and institutions, but leaks regarding
the committee’s work are inconsistent with that premise and does not serve the
public work.
Speaking on Sunday at a seminar organized by the
Jordanian Society for Science and Culture, Nasser said that it is difficult to
see a connection between the goals of the plan and ways to implement them.
Speaking at the same event, Abdullah Elayan, former
head of the Civil Service Bureau, said that the output of the plan is not
consistent with the initial objectives, adding that the plan will not see the
light of day because those who prepared it have nothing to do with public work
and their experience in government departments is almost non-existent.
Former deputy prime minister
Jawad Anani told
Jordan
News that the priorities of the road map should be to facilitate and
clarify procedures, and establish guidelines that identify issues related to
laws and transactions, among others.
In addition, employees need to be trained before
being appointed, Anani said, adding that they must pass a civil service exam
that tests their knowledge of laws and regulations and laws related to their
work.
At the same time, he said, there is need to instill
and deepen the concept of serving citizens, and to do away with bureaucratic
procedures.
Anani added that merging or abolishing ministries is
a measure that could have waited, since it is not a top priority, while easing
investment procedures is.
Radi Al-Atoum, former director-general of the
Institute of Public Administration, told
Jordan News said that the
proposed roadmap for administrative reform has lost its bearings and has little
to do with modernizing the public sector.
He added that there should be a special focus on
human resources, and an adequate budget to develop them.
Atoum called for strict oversight and accountability
at all levels while implementing good governance programs already approved by
the government.
He added that some officials involved in developing
the public sector lack awareness, while those who are aware of the present
confusion, prefer to remain silent.
Former minister of public sector development
Maher Madadha told
Jordan News that that the government’s effort to develop
the public sector complement previous efforts, stressing that the programs and
objectives presented in the proposed plan need to be reviewed and evaluated
during the implementation process.
Madadha added that the blueprint of the modernization plan
should be flexible, allowing for adjustments based on studies and consultations
with experts and professionals in the field. Public sector reform requires
constant review of the budget, reduction of public sector expenditures, and
involving the private sector, he said.
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