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For too long we have politicians chopping and changing the shape of the public service both after elections and also with several mid-term reshuffles. Could this be why our Public Service is so bloatea and innefficient?
I think we should have a more permanent setup, with deviation only for extreme demonstrated needs via a painful justification process. This will give some semblance of stability to the Civil Service and enhance performance monitoring, accountability AND independence from excessive political interference.
Here is my proposal: EIGHT Ministries (all Cabinet level, plus the AG) ably supported by Parliamentary secretaries (Do we really need Ministers of State? Are they just inflated positions to reward the political faithful? Do they deflate the importance of Parliamentary Sec'ys)
1) Finance and the Economy (Treasury, etc)
2) Interior Minister -Labour, Urban Devt, Social Sec, Public Service, Youth, Culture, Sports
3) Exterior Minister- Foreign Affairs and Trade, International relations,
4) Industry Minister - Commerce, Tourism, Agriculture, Investment promo, Mining, Environment, Entertainment, Manufacturing
5) Security Minister - Nat security, Defence, Emergency (disaster) planning and response, Justice
6) Infrastructure - Water, Works, Housing, Roads, Transport, Land and ENERGY
7) Health and Education
8) Office of the PM - Info and Planning
9) Attorney General (honourary Cabinet Minister)
Of course they can be cut up differently, but this is my stab at it.
All these have meat and will force the Ministers to delegate and concentrate on policy formulation, while staying out of the operational purview of the empowered Civil Service.
I think we should have a more permanent setup, with deviation only for extreme demonstrated needs via a painful justification process. This will give some semblance of stability to the Civil Service and enhance performance monitoring, accountability AND independence from excessive political interference.
Here is my proposal: EIGHT Ministries (all Cabinet level, plus the AG) ably supported by Parliamentary secretaries (Do we really need Ministers of State? Are they just inflated positions to reward the political faithful? Do they deflate the importance of Parliamentary Sec'ys)
1) Finance and the Economy (Treasury, etc)
2) Interior Minister -Labour, Urban Devt, Social Sec, Public Service, Youth, Culture, Sports
3) Exterior Minister- Foreign Affairs and Trade, International relations,
4) Industry Minister - Commerce, Tourism, Agriculture, Investment promo, Mining, Environment, Entertainment, Manufacturing
5) Security Minister - Nat security, Defence, Emergency (disaster) planning and response, Justice
6) Infrastructure - Water, Works, Housing, Roads, Transport, Land and ENERGY
7) Health and Education
8) Office of the PM - Info and Planning
9) Attorney General (honourary Cabinet Minister)
Of course they can be cut up differently, but this is my stab at it.
All these have meat and will force the Ministers to delegate and concentrate on policy formulation, while staying out of the operational purview of the empowered Civil Service.
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