A civil service commission, also known as a Public Service Commission, is a government agency or public body established by the constitution or legislature. It regulates the employment and working conditions of civil servants, oversees hiring and promotions, and promotes the values of the public service. Its role is roughly analogous to that of the human resources department in corporations.
Civil service commissions are often independent from elected politicians, maintaining the separation of the permanent, professional civil service from government ministers. In Fiji, for example, the PSC reviews government statutory powers to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in meeting public sector management objectives.
Origin and Development
The origin of the public service commission in many former British colonies was the White Paper Colonial 197 issued in 1950. This document set out measures to improve the quality and efficiency of the Colonial Service of the British administration. It recommended that Public Service Commissions should be established in the Colonies. Subject to the general overriding powers of the Secretary of State, the selection and appointment of candidates in the Colonies to posts in the local service would lie with the Governor of the Colony.
Key Functions and Responsibilities
The Civil Service encompasses various classes of officers, each with specific roles and responsibilities:
- Senior Civil Servants: This comprises the most senior civil servants who organize and coordinate the activities of the ministries. Recruitment to this class is based on university education and very competitive written examinations and interviews conducted by the civil service commission.
- Executive Class: The executive class implements the general policies and programmes of the government on a daily basis. This class comprises executive officers, senior executive officers, and senior technical officers who are recruited after possessing professional diplomas and certificates as well as G.C.E.
- Specialized/Technical Class: This class of officers is recruited as a result of their specialized training, skills, scientific, and technical knowledge. They offer professional advice on the technical policies of the government and supervise sensitive projects undertaken by the government.
- Clerical Class: This class of workers includes typists, clerical officers, clerical assistants, and secretaries who help staff in the other classes to carry out their functions. Their job involves keeping records, movement of files, preparation of data and vouchers, and payment of claims. They are holders of secondary school certificates and G.C.E Oliver or equivalent professional certificates.
- Support Staff: The categories of workers in this class include cleaners, drivers, painters, messengers, porters, and gardeners.
Recent Policy Changes
In August 2009, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Ahmed Al-Gazali, and the Head of Civil Service, Stephen Osagiede Oronsaye, initiated a new tenure policy. This policy provides a four-year term renewable once for permanent secretaries and an eight-year term for directors.
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