By: Lamin B. Darboe &
Sarjo M. Camara
The Vice President of the Republic has said that Permanent Secretaries’ Retreats underpin the management of Public Service Reforms and the building of initiatives to create an effective, efficient, and responsive public sector, optimizing limited resources to yield superior results that meet the citizens’ expectations.
Mr. Muhammad B. S. Jallow made this statement on Monday, August 7, 2023, as he presided over the official opening of the three-day 2nd Quarter Permanent Secretaries’ Retreat at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Center, Bijilo.
According to VP Jallow, creating consistent policies and strategies, systems, structures, and other development tools from 1st and 2nd Quarter PS retreats is pivotal to realizing socio-economic development.
“Together with Cabinet Ministers, I am confident that each Permanent Secretaries’ has gained a clear understanding and considerable experience to expedite the implementation of the RF-NDP (The Green Recovery Focused NDP 2024-2027) and the long-term Development Vision 2050,” said VP Jallow.
This retreat, VP Jallow added, should serve as a visionary platform for the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), seeking to map out the best way to leverage the lessons learned from the current NDP and integrate them into the Recovery Focus-National Development Plan (RF-NDP) to catalyse the needed socio-economic transformation of our nation.
He, therefore, underscored that this retreat, and the forthcoming ones in 2023, aim to better equip the sectors and other relevant stakeholders for a seamless transition from the NDP (2017-2021) to the RF-NDP (2024-2027).
He explained further that “This 2nd quarter PSs retreat should focus on essential issues such as eliminating duplication in the public sector, working with reduced budgets, innovation and sharing responsibilities and information, strengthening coordination and integration of strategies, and creating a joined-up and connected government to ensure policy coherence”.
These VP continued that they are all relevant for the smooth functioning of the government and are in line with the global drive to assess and measure the impact of governance on the people.
He informed the PSs that President Adama Barrow has mandated the Cabinet Office to team up with the Ministry of Public Service to schedule a Cabinet retreat following the conclusion of the second quarter Permanent Secretaries’ retreat.
“Let me finally express my appreciation to President AdamaBarrow who prioritizes the welfare and well-being of civil servants and equips them with the essential resources to boost productivity and elevate service delivery,” VP Jallow concludes
