Why choose to be a public servant?

Today’s public sector environment has come a long way from how things used to be in the 70s, 80s and 90s when public services were seen as a privilege and not a right, and a career is seen as a safe option, especially for senior staff, who enjoyed the sector’s solid benefits package, including job security rarely found in the profit-driven private sector. Unlike in the past where public servants faced little or no accountability demands at all, today’s public servants face greater demand for accountability of their actions from those they serve. Service users are constantly seeking ways to be actively involved in decision-making of how services are delivered, and public servants face increased public expectations to do more with scarce resources at their disposal. However, what is remarkable is that nearly all these changes have taken place when public sector pay has on average remained lower for equivalent jobs in the private sector for many decades. This begs the question; why would anyone aspire to take on a job that demands a lot and yet compensates less in comparison to the private sector? The answer to this is not a straight forward one; however, public management scholars insist that the factor of public sector ethos partially explains why many continue to pursue a career in the public sector as opposed to being attracted to large salaries found in the private sector. We have all come across people who say that they chose a career in the public sector so that they can make a difference to the lives of others. But what does this really mean and how is it linked to public sector ethos? In short, public sector ethos can be described as long-established set of values and rules, mostly unwritten, which set out the standards that public servants should uphold. It is understood that when an individual chooses to pursue a career as a teacher, a member of the armed forces, a police officer, more often than not, the choice is fundamentally based on the unique principle to do a socially useful job - that is to say, the opportunity to help others without necessarily being motivated entirely by a remuneration package. For instance, when a graduate trains to become a teacher, chances are the main motivating factor behind that choice is to advance society’s overall education levels and to see positive outcomes. The same motivating factor applies to those who work in the health service, finance-related public bodies, law and order services, and many more public entities. In addition, many surveys conducted world over indicate that the majority of public sector workers choose a public service career path because they feel compelled to serve people, their communities, and those in need of representation. Furthermore, those drawn to public service are motivated by an overwhelming need to give back to society, to work for the greater good that goes beyond remuneration, and to make a difference with the work they do. Surveys also note that there is a sense of idealism and a strong desire to contribute something significant and make a difference. Many public sector employees work in fields where they help educate the next generation, provide quality health care, maintain national and local infrastructure, and provide services to keep law and order. In effect, it is important we maintain this ethos because public sector work is fundamentally related to building and improving our communities. Law enforcement officers, healthcare workers, public sector engineers, and many more public sector vocations contribute greatly to the advancement of our society – and in the case of Rwanda, they contribute greatly in advancing our ambitions to become a truly self-reliant nation. However, those already in the public sector and those seeking to join must quickly understand that public expectations have increased significantly and that this trend is set to continue. Local and central government entities are now operating in a very dynamic environment where citizen’s demands are constantly changing, operations are open to scrutiny, there are new laws and regulations to operate under, and advances in technology have changed ways in which services are delivered. Consequently, the public sector needs agile learners who are eager to pick up new ways of delivering services or doing business. Simply put, the public sector is no longer a place for those seeking a safe career path because more and more citizens understand that public services are a constitutional right and not a privilege bestowed to them by public servants. Similarly, while public sector reforms have seen an improvement on how public servants are appreciated and valued, the public service ethos cannot be taken for granted; it needs to be renewed and strengthened to set out clearly society’s aspirations for its public services. junior.mutabazi@yahoo.co.uk

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Why choose to be a public servant?