The Public Service Commission has embarked on a functional review of the civil service, as a basis for determining its optimum size and consequent restructuring.
The PSC chairman Mr Josefa Serulagilagi said that such an exercise had been considered a priority by Government because it would allow for an objective evaluation to be undertaken and way forward to be recommended for further restructuring in the civil service.
It is envisaged that such restructuring would inter-alia entail realigning of roles, merger of overlapping functions, downsizing of personnel in ministries or departments of lesser significance and strengthening human resource capabilities in areas of priority in line with relevant provisions of the Peoples Charter for Change, Peace and Progress and Roadmap for Democracy and Sustainable Socio-Economic Development.
The review exercise is undertaken by a team of qualified personnel from within the Public Service and their work will be overseen by a steering committee of permanent secretaries and chaired by the PSC permanent secretary.
The exercise will take three months, with the target for completion being February 28th, 2011.
Mr Serulagilagi said that the review exercise was also in line with recommendations of the IMF Article IV Mission, which inter-alia recommended that a review of public service be undertaken to determine measures and strategies to contain the size of the civil service.