A NATIONAL INTEGRITY SYSTEM POLICIES FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE

1
A NATIONAL INTEGRITY SYSTEM POLICIES FOR THE
PUBLIC SERVICE

• Olabisi A. Dare

Senior Political/Humanitarian Affairs Officer
AU Liaison Office in Liberia
Monrovia, Liberia.
2
VISION STATEMENT

• In view of the public servants role and
  influence, they are expected to be persons of
  high moral character and integrity. Furthermore,
  the public servant is expected to be law-abiding
  and committed person who shows proper care for
  public assets, behaves ethically and discharges
  his/her duties and responsibility efficiently and
  effectively with decency and dignity.

3
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

• To create a preventive mechanism against
  misconduct by public servants
• Make corruption a high risk and low return
  undertaking from the very beginning by preventing
  it in the first place
• To create a well-motivated service that does not
  operate in fear and apprehension
• To set out standard of behaviour and conduct by
  public servants

4

• To ensure impartiality, objectivity,
  transparency, integrity, efficiency and
  effectiveness of public servants and public
  institutions in the performance of their duties
  and mandate
• A public service that is both efficient and
  effective, and which contributes to sustainable
  development
• To produce a government functioning under the
  law, with citizens protected from arbitrariness
  (including abuses of human rights ) and
• Development strategies which yield benefits to
  the nation as a whole, including its poorest and
  most vulnerable.

5
CURRENT SITUATION

• Politicization of the public service
• Patronage in recruitment and promotion
• Ineffective and inefficient service delivery
• Abuse of discretion
• Low remuneration
• Indifference in work attitude
• Incompetent performance
• Low Morale
• Inefficient Civil Service and
• Enhanced opportunity for corruption.

6
SOME MEASURES AIMED AT PREVENTING CORRUPTION IN
PUBLIC SERVICE

• Need to establish principles of good conduct to
  be followed by public servants. These principles
  are universally accepted and include the
  following
• Selflessness Decision to be taken solely in
  public interest
• Integrity Not to be under obligation, financial
  or otherwise, likely to impair performance of
  duties
• Diligence Application of efforts to performance
  of duties
• Objectivity Justice and fairness in all matters
  including appointments, promotions, award of
  contracts or recommending individuals for rewards
  and benefits

7

• Accountability- A public servant should be
  personally responsible for his/her act
• Openness (Transparency) Access to information
  leading to decision making, once it does not
  compromise larger public interest, must be
  readily shared with the public
• Honesty Declaration of private interest
  relating to duties performed, must be disclosed
  truthfully and faithfully
• Non-discrimination Display for human dignity
  and human rights of all persons, irrespective of
  race, sex sexual orientation, marital status
  religion, etc
• Discipline Strict adherence to the civil
  service rules and regulation
• Loyalty Public servants must be faithful to the
  people and governments they serve

8

• Confidentiality Public servants should not
  divulge confidential information obtained in the
  course of his work to unauthorized person
• Leadership A public servant should be a role
  model to others
• Professionalism Public servants should adhere
  to the professional code of conduct at all times.

9

• Awareness of Constitutional and Civic
  responsibilities
• Responsibility to the State and public service
• Respect for laws of the State
• Maintaining dignity of public service
• Support for the vulnerable groups and the
  physically challenged
• Influence of official action for undue advantage
• Care for State properties including protection
  from damages, respect for procedures,
  particularly, procurement
• Public servants should not represent or serve as
  an agent of foreign government.

10
OTHER PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION AND RELEASE OF
  CLASSIFIED MATERIALS.
• Public servants should use sensitive and
  confidential information in their possession or
  likely to be in their possession only in the
  performance of official duties.
• Such information should not be used in ways
  inconsistent with obligation to act impartially.
• It should not be used to cause harm or be
  detrimental to any person or body or the public
  service.
• It should not be used to gain improper advantage
  for himself or for any other.

11

• USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, PROPERTIES AND FACILITIES.
• Government facilities are to be used for official
  purposes only.
• Public resources entrusted to public servants for
  the performance of their duties are to be
  utilized judiciously and in accordance with
  budgetary appropriations and financial
  regulations.

12

• GIFTS, BRIBES AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST
• Public servant should not receive or encourage
  the giving of bribe in the course of his duties.
• Public servants should not receive any bribe or
  casual gifts from commercial firms, business
  enterprises, institutions whether private or
  public or persons who have submitted bids for
  contracts, or intends to bid for contract before
  the employer of the public servant or the
  government.
• Any token gift must be declared within a
  reasonable period of time.
• A report of any circumstance where a benefit or
  gift was offered should be made to superior
  authority, regardless of whether it was accepted
  or not.

13

• report of any circumstance where a benefit or
  gift was offered should be made to superior
  authority, regardless of whether it was accepted
  or not.
• Gifts other than casual or token gifts can be
  accepted from foreign governments, international
  organizations or quasi governmental
  organizations closely affiliated or funded by
  government provided prompt declaration of such
  gifts are made to superior authority, who will
  decide whether to retain the gift or surrender it
  to government.
• Public servant should not use his position to
  pursue other interest that may result in conflict
  of interest.
• Where a public servant has direct or indirect
  personal interest in a matter being examined, he
  shall inform the authorities and recuse himself
  before deliberations are held and a vote or
  decisions is taken.

14

• SANCTIONS.
• IN THE EVENT THAT ANY PUBLIC SERVANT VIOLATES
  THIS PREVENTIVE MEASURES AIMED AT SAFEDGUARDING
  THE INTEGRITY OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE FROM
  CORRUPTION AND CORRUPT PRACTICES AND DEPENDING
  ON THE GRAVITY OF SUCH VIOLATION OR MISCONDUCT,
  ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING PENALTIES SHOULD
  APPLY
• Dismissal
• Removal from office in public interest
• Reprimand
• Fine or making good of the loss or damage of
  public property/assets
• Seizure and forfeiture to the State of any
  property acquired from abuse of office
• Demotion.

15
RECOMMENDATIONS

• DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTERESTS, ASSETS AND
  PERFORMANCE/FINANCIAL BONDS
• Public Servants involved in making decisions
  affecting contracting, tendering or procurement,
  and issuing of licenses of various types should
  sign performance or financial bond and in
  addition declare all incomes, assets and
  liabilities prior to taking office and
  thereafter.
• Such declaration should be lodged with the
  relevant national authority responsible for the
  function of the Ombudsman.
• Every public servant should further declare and
  affirm that the declaration is accurate and to
  the best of his knowledge.

16

• ADMINISTRATIVE/LEGISLATIVE MEASURES TO SUPPORT
  NATIONAL INTEGRITY POLICIES.
• Enact and enforce civil service legislation and
  rules to govern employment, promotion and
  retirement.
• Enforce civil service rules and provide redress
  mechanism for violation thereof.
• Review and improve civil service retirement and
  compensation scheme.
• Conduct periodic salary evaluation and provide
  for cost of living adjustment.
• Develop competitive conditions of service for the
  civil servants.
• Establish an independent Anti-Corruption
  Commission.