Public Service probe reveals unfair sacking of civil servants

Findings from the Public Service Commission probe indicate that last year’s civil service evaluation exercise was flawed and some employees ended up being fired unfairly. The Commission, that was set up to authenticate claims that the evaluation exercise was flawed, comprised officials from ministries of Local Government and Public Service and Labour. A source from Public Service Commission told The New Times yesterday that investigations conducted reveal some employees were dropped maliciously. For instance, in Rubavu district alone, out of the 22 employees who petitioned the Commission, 12 were found to have been sacked unfairly. Figures from other districts which include Rulindo, Bugesera and Ngororero were not readily available by press time. “We have informed the Ministry of Local Government over the matter,” the source, who declined to be named revealed. According to the source, some employees had scored the required 70% pass mark but the marks were altered downwards without genuine reasons. The New Times has also learnt that the Public Service Commission has recommended that those who were fired unfairly be re-instated immediately. The source cited one case where an employee was victimized because he had not attended a function where a government official was being hosted by the district. Asked when employees would be re-instated, Local Government Minister, James Musoni, said his ministry was working with the Public Service Commission to solve the problem. “We entirely agree with the Public Service Commission findings,” Musoni explained in a telephone interview yesterday. He added that the ministry had requested District Advisory Council members to look into the matter urgently. Musoni also revealed that leaders who used evaluation exercise to maliciously victimize government employees will be punished. Public Service Commission revelation comes weeks after the Office of Ombudsman launched investigation to establish whether two former employees of parliament were sacked unfairly during the evaluation exercise. The employees, Moise Rusingizwa and Baudoin Bwanakweli were fired last year by the Ministry of Public Service and Labour following civil service evaluation exercise. The Ombudsman, Tito Rutaremara wrote to Parliament on January 19, demanding an explanation as to why the two employees had been fired yet they scored the required pass mark. Ends

National

Public Service probe reveals unfair sacking of civil servants