By PEL Koroma

Corruption is inherent in man and therefore the state should not leave its economy to market forces; the state should be at the fore of reforms to re-establish the lives of the people, says a resource person at an ongoing conference on ‘Integrating Employment, Decent Work and Agenda in Governance and Public Service Delivery.'

“Economic development can be planned so as to create enabling environment for credible investors to invest no matter where they come from as long as they adhere to the regulations of the state,” said the Nigerian-born Professor Dafe Otobo.

He also told participants at the expert conference organized by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Presidential and Public Affairs that there is a need to eradicate mass poverty and unemployment, fair play in recruitment and replacement in the public service.

Otobo emphasized on participatory governance and public engagement in service delivery. “Public sector reform is necessary but it is clear that those who are supposed to enforce laws are the ones breaking them. Government has to make sure that decent jobs are created.”

Humanitarian and Social Affairs person of the ECOWAS Commission Henreitta Didigu earlier revealed that the meeting is organized annually to bring practitioners, stakeholders and those in the management sector to share ideas.

“This meeting of ECOWAS experts will border on integrating sustainable employment principles in governance and public service delivery, integrating ‘decent work' agenda in governance and public service delivery and participatory governance and public engagement in service delivery,” she said.

Didigu noted that such deliberations will impact the lives of the common man. “Efficient public service is relevant to development. We hope to strengthen the capacity of the public service, exchange views among member states, sensitize and help develop member states and to develop guidelines and come up with cogent information and recommendations,” she said.

Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service, Sahr G. Pessima reiterated the importance of the public service which require dealing with the complex responsibility of managing the state in the political, economic and social spheres.

“The public service therefore has considerable influence on the government's reputation. If it fails to carry out government's policies faithfully and efficiently, it will not only frustrate these policies but it might seriously undermine the government's position and stability,” Pessima said.

He stressed that the responsibility of the public service to the government should be matched by the reciprocal responsibility of the government to its public servants.

He said considering the role of the public service in the governance of our countries, the status of the moral of the service ought to be a matter of utmost concern to governments.

Representative of International Labour Organization (ILO) Mohamed Gassama said decent work is central to efforts to reduce poverty and is a means of achieving equitable, inclusive and sustainable development.

“ILO will bring its expertise to support increased and efficient public service delivery through capacity building of service providers including advocacy for fair, equitable pay and improved conditions of workers in the public sector,” he said.

The three day conference which kicked off on Tuesday at the Bintumani Hotel will end tomorrow.