By NOELA EBOB BISONG
Cameroon last June 24, 2019, joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 16th edition of the Public Service day. However, many users of the country’s Public Service remain unsatisfied due to the poor services they receive daily from the sector.
Though conceived to serve the interest of the public, the nonchalance attitude towards work, endemic corruption, arrogance, absenteeism etc are ills which continue to characterize the Cameroon Civil Service, making it to fall short of expectation.
While a few users hold that the Public Service in Cameroon has been improved as compared to previous years, many are those who say the system still remains very sick; over-crowded, poor communication, snubbish attitude of workers, corruption, inertia, archaic, exploitation, poor reception, language barrier, complexity, etc, are all cankerworms continuously eating deed the system.
According to Cameroon’s Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, Joseph Le, the country’s Public Service must perform its fundamental role of promoting good governance as well as national development.
The Minister reiterates that “The public service of proximity is on the move; our users suffer too much, especially those who are in the regions. Facilities are being put in place to end the covering of long distances by public service users. We have received instructions from the head of state and Prime Minister to render better public service to the users”.
Concerning corruption, Joseph Le says “The fight against corruption is a collective fight; the public service is free of charge”, he also states.
The Public Service in Cameroon is expected to serve the public with humility, diligence and tenderness, but the reverse has been the case for many years now.
“They neither greet, and when greeted, they hardly respond, at least, not in a friendly tone, if they do. Also, punctuality is a value which has been long forgotten by many in the public service, many come to work after 10am. Women who occupy most of the offices do not help the situation, as they prefer to engage in idle conversations or personal issues, than serving the public”, one user explains.
It should be recalled that the Public Service day is celebrated every June 23, with focus to uphold the values and virtues of the Public Service for the community, highlights the contribution of Public Service in the development process, recognize the work of public servants and encourages young people to consider careers in the public sector.