Tighten public service

Editorial

THE public service is the engine room of any country and that is true that if its stops functioning, whatever plans any Government has will never be achieved.
Regardless of what’s on the calendar, service to the public should be provided unhindered.
It does not matter who is in Government, the main thing is that the public service should be resolute in its own stand and that is service should be delivered.
This time around public servants, especially the departmental heads, have been challenged by the Prime Minister to focus on implementing the delivery of goods and services in the supplementary budget.
The have to put the plug to the wastage and leakages in the system because of the limited cash they have.
The departmental heads by now should already know what they want to achieve so it’s now about planning to achieve their target with the limited financial support and resources.
Public servants over time have always been challenged to improve their efficiency and effectiveness.
That means they should learn to listen, look around with an open mind to what the society/community goes through every day.
Only if one goes out and experiences the hardship then you will feel and understand the people’s cry for service.
Like they say, you have to be in it to feel it.
Another area that should be improved on is the punctuality and productivity of public servants.
Prime Minister James Marape since taking office have been straight with staff in their respective departments that they will not tolerate laxity.
The message is simple and clear – shape up or ship out.
The PNG habit or style of getting things done should stop.
Starting work after 8am, frequent absenteeism, unnecessary breaks, bad habits and culture and abusing ones position for personal benefits should come to an end.
Work ethics refer to a basic set of moral values associated with the way work is done whatever its nature or status.
Honesty, responsibility, discipline and diligence are values we inculcate in children from an early stage linking these up with performance in school and early childhood tasks.
In adult life, these values should translate into hard work, efficiency, discipline and integrity at the workplace.
While talking about the general trend of poor work ethics, we should not lose sight of the fact that there always remains a segment of the workforce that displays a good sense of work ethics.
They do not just believe in but also demonstrate their honesty, integrity and accountability at the workplace.
Hardworking and committed, these people contribute to the country’s progress to the best of their ability.
What we need is for a critical mass to be turned into an expanded labour force with strong work ethics.
One thing though, they also have their own challenges in performing their duties.
We like to believe that the public service had transformed over the past 41 years and it came with huge challenges.
It has departed from the traditions and practices of the public service that the executive government had been practicing for many years.
The various plans launched, ideas clashed and clash in the manner in how service was to be delivered to the people.
The challenge is now on everyone especially those entrusted to deliver to not make the same mistake, learn from past experiences and continue to chart and develop a new part for service delivery.