The Public Service Commission (PSC) has undergone further restructuring to re-align its work activities to the respective provisions of 2013 Constitution.
In briefing the staff on the new structure this week, the PSC permanent secretary Mr Parmesh Chand said that the 2013 Constitution has directly delegated a number of functions previously performed by the Public Service Commission to the Permanent Secretaries. The Public Service Disciplinary Tribunal is also now an independent/constitutional Office falling under the Judicial Department.
The functions of the PSC as contained in Section 126(i) are confined to:
To appoint Permanent Secretaries with the agreement of the Prime Minister;
To remove Permanent Secretaries with the agreement of Prime Minister;
To institute disciplinary action against Permanent Secretaries; and
To make such other appointments and perform such other duties, prescribed by written law.
Section 126 (2) (a-d) – functions do not extend to an office of a Judge or with the responsibility of the Judicial Services Commission, any other body prescribed by written law; office of RFMF, FPF and FCS.
Recently, there have been further developments, wherein the functions pertaining to the grant, administration and management of assistance for tertiary education in the form of scholarships and loans have now been outsourced to a Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Board [TSLB].
Mr Chand stated that the PSC has very important role in appointment and monitoring of performance of Permanent Secretaries, providing necessary support and framework for improved work performance, providing advisory assistance to Ministries on human resource matters, administration of office accommodation and Government housing, as well as promoting service excellence across the Public Service and knowledge management and dissemination.
He said, the affected staff have been redeployed within; particularly into areas where there is enhanced focus in the restructure such as leadership development, monitoring and evaluation, promotion of service excellence, capacity building in recruitment and human resource management practices and bringing about continuous improvements in office accommodation and housing of public servants.
“The staff are excited about the changes and the new structure as PSC will now play a strategic and developmental role in human resource matters rather than focusing on roles and functions which can be more efficiently and effectively performed by the respective Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Agencies”, Mr. Chand said.
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