By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

On Thursday August 22nd, 2024, the Public Service Commission (PSC ) at the financial year (FY) 2025 budget drafting proposal, to be  jointly approved by budget experts, requested for billions of Leones to aid it undertake it activities for the year 2025.

The program was held at the Ministry of Finance on George Street in Freetown.

According to the Secretary to Commission, Mohamed Jusu, he emphasized on the achievements recorded by his PSC team members over the years.

He said the Commission had made 353 confirmed appointments in various positions in various MDAs, adding that PSC had promoted 2, 524 workers into higher grades in the civil service He said appointments under delegate authority from grade 1-5 are in progress, stressing that PSC is delegated to the Human Recourses Management Office (HRMO) with the mandate of appointing from grade 1-5.

“A Fy2024 Ministry of Finance approval 4, 210,700.00, the first half allocation received was 1, 894, 799.5, execution rate of 45% and remaining 55% was also approval later.”

Meanwhile, PS Jusu enlightened the civil service entrance exams across the country, adding that 580 applied in Northern region, 1,200 in Southern regions, Eastern region 650 with a total of 2,430 respectively.

Speaking to the media unit, they said, PSC had delivered in the Fy2024 budget in various areas, noting that 80% of the 350 critical vacancies had been placed within the Ministries Departments and Agencies, and he  confirmed the promotion of 250 civil servants in the admin managerial and professional cadres in the civil services.

”We are facing several obsolete problems on legislation and logistical supports. The commission is in urgent need of better office accommodation with particular reference to the recorder infrastructure coupled with ICTs. And so, to sort out these issues and many more, it is requesting NLe 5,928,555.6Million.

The commission is deeply challenged by lack of sophisticated and robust website, ” PSC’s members said.

Moses Sesay, a beneficiary told this medium that PSC recruitment is 50% transparency and that they need to up their game in the future. Noting that the process, however, is 55% based on equal opportunity given  especially in the area of gender mainstreaming in the public sector hence, stressing for objectivity,  accountability and integrity.

“Even though the vision and core values of the commission is to provide leadership, oversight and guidance in the development and management of the human resource of the public service of Sierra Leone, but they need to up their game.”

“I am a B.SC. Degree holder in Economics from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, I saw an advert relating to my discipline at PSC notices board, and I applied, luckily, I was shortlisted and passed the exams with good grades. Now, I am working as a civil servant at the ministry of Social Welfare. However, there are many of our peers still think PSC needs to do more in ensuring impartially in employment,” they said.