Civil servants have something positive to write home about after the Cabinet approved a 16 per cent increase in their salaries.

With most of the world experiencing tight economic conditions which goes hand-in-hand with a rise in the cost of living, civil servants will surely appreciate that their contribution to nation building has been recognised.

But government workers have to give something back in exchange; dedication and hard work. It is the minimum required of them.

At the time the Cabinet approved the pay rise, it was also briefed on the state of affairs of Imihigo (performance contracts) for 2016/2017.

When leaders sign the undertaking to deliver on their promises for the new fiscal year, they should do so with the clear understanding that the goal is to improve the livelihoods of Rwandans and not earning brownie points.

Many in the past cooked up results just to be ranked among the best, yet the situation on the ground was different. They achieved the goal of basking in the national limelight at the expense of the people they were supposed to serve.

That era is now gone. Civil servants should instead set realistic and achievable goals, plan carefully and roll up their sleeves and get to work.

Their first task – for those who performed below par – is to find the reasons for the poor performance, borrow a leaf from their peers who were outstanding and get back on the drawing board.

There is no better school than learning from mistakes, having the courage to revisit them and then working to rectify the errors.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw