JERUSALEM (August 15): In the face of opposition from Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, the Israeli Cabinet has approved a measure allowing Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to directly nominate the next Civil Service Commissioner.
Ms Baharav-Miara (pictured) said the Commissioner should not be appointed by Mr Netanyahu “personally and politically”, without a professional examination of professional qualifications and suitability.
“An open competitive procedure must be established for the selection of the Commissioner to allow qualified candidates to compete for the position,” Ms Baharav-Miara said.
Mr Netanyahu will now be authorised to nominate a candidate who will then be examined by the Senior Appointments Advisory Committee to the Civil Service.
In a statement following the decision, the Prime Minister’s Office asserted that the responsibility to choose a Civil Service Commissioner lies with “the nation”, represented by the elected Government, and there was no reason to grant Civil Service professionals a say in the matter.
Addressing concerns that he would be able to appoint people who were incompetent or unqualified, the Mr Netanyahu said top security positions were already chosen by the Government.
“If the public determines the selected candidate is a bad fit, it can just vote in a new Government that can make new appointments,” Mr Netanyahu said.
“If we don’t allow bureaucrats to decide the competence of heads of our security establishment, why must we make an exception for appointments to the Civil Service, and put it in their hands?”
Current Commissioner, Daniel Hershkowitz is set to complete his term in October. His appointment was approved by the Government in 2018 after a committee, headed by retired judge, Hanan Efrati had rejected Mr Netanyahu’s first choice for the job.
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Jobs rush expected after Malaysian pay boost
KUALA LUMPUR (August 18): The Malaysian Public Service Commission says it expects a surge in applications from young people following the announcement of salary adjustments, set to begin in December.
Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim announced a 15 per cent salary adjustment for Civil Servants in the implementing, management and professional groups, and seven per cent for those in top management. The increases come with conditions to bring about major reforms in the bureaucracy.
Commission Chair, Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus said the salary increase could boost enthusiasm among young people, particularly school leavers and university graduates, due to the perceived job security in the public sector.
“We anticipate a significant increase in applications, with data expected in the first quarter of next year,” Mr Ahmad Jailani said.
“We are preparing to handle this influx and will enhance our online application facilities.”
He advised applicants to exercise caution when applying to avoid falling victim to fraud as the Civil Service would now be a sought-after career option.
“We urge all applicants to seek accurate and authentic information to avoid falling victim to scammers,” Mr Ahmad Jailani said.
The Economy Ministry said it fully supported Mr Anwar’s reforms.
"Civil Servants are always ready to make changes, a paradigm shift in terms of behaviour and thinking, so that ultimately the country's competitiveness can be increased. The Government is committed to reforming public services," the Ministry said in a statement.
“We hope this will motivate the Civil Service to strive for their best for the nation.”
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Universities endangered as birth rate plunges
TOKYO (August 22): Japan’s Education Ministry is considering merging or even closing some of the country’s universities as the national birth rate continues to fall.
The move, by the Ministry’s Central Council for Education, comes as the Japan Association of National Universities warned that national universities are "facing a critical limit" financially.
The Central Council has convened monthly since being commissioned by Education Minister, Masahito Moriyama in September last year.
People aged 18, who constitute the majority of university-bound students, totalled approximately 1.1 million last year, a significant decline from the peak of about 2.49 million in 1966.
The Central Council projected that the number of 18-year-olds will continue to decline, reaching around 820,000 by 2040. As a result, the number of university entrants is forecast to decrease from about 630,000 last year to an estimated 510,000 in 2040.
The Central Council emphasised a need for universities to diversify their student bodies by attracting a wider range of individuals, including working adults and international students.
Its draft report noted that "maintaining a healthy enrolment scale is unattainable if the current focus on 18-year-olds remains unchanged".
Even with such efforts, the draft report warned universities will inevitably face shortages of applicants, along with potential suspensions of recruitment or even bankruptcies, underscoring the need for "concrete measures to optimise the overall scale".
A Ministry official warned that if the situation was left unattended, some geographical areas might end up without any universities.
"We want to encourage everyone to think about the fundamental purpose of universities," the official said.
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No decision yet on UK home working
LONDON (August 17): The United Kingdom’s new Labour Government has yet to decide whether existing guidance on Civil Service home working will stay in place, a Minister has said.
Responding to a written question asking for the Government’s policy is on the issue, Cabinet Office Minister, Georgia Gould said the Government’s entire focus was on the work of delivering change.
“The Government has not yet reviewed existing guidance on home working. We will support the Civil Service with the necessary tools to ensure it can deliver that change,” Ms Gould said.
“The Government is committed to supporting individuals and businesses to work in ways that best suit their particular circumstances. Whilst terms and conditions relating to hours of work are delegated to Departments as individual employers, the Civil Service must ensure it provides value for money for the public.”
Shortly before the July 4 General Election, the then Shadow Paymaster General, Jonathan Ashworth suggested Labour would continue to expect Civil Servants to spend more of their time in the office.
Ms Gould was also asked whether Ministers planned to reduce the size of the Civil Service.
She said: “Decisions on the future size of the Civil Service will form a key part of the next comprehensive spending review. Therefore, a proper and full consideration will be given to this in due course.”
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New head for Nigerian bureaucracy
ABUJA (August 16): Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu has appointed Esther Didi Walson-Jack as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
At the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Tinubu urged Mrs Walson-Jack to serve the nation with integrity and transparency.
He also paid tribute to her predecessor, Folashade Yemi-Esan, describing her tenure as exceptional.
”We must learn from her commitment to duty, loyalty, and great vision. She served our nation exceptionally well with dedication, guiding the Civil Service through significant transformation and reforms,” Mr Tinubu said.
“Her dedication to enhancing efficiency, transparency, and professionalism has set a high standard for public administration in this country.”
Mrs Walson-Jack thanked Dr Yemi-Esan, for her mentorship and guidance.
“I look forward to building on the existing reforms in a way that will bring innovation and creativity, so that the Civil Service can be more effective and efficient,” Mrs Walson Jack said.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. She was appointed State Counsel in Rivers State in 1992, later named Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State.
In 2009, she joined the Federal Civil Service and was appointed as Permanent Secretary in 2017.
Mrs Walson-Jack has held key positions in several Ministries, including Power, Water Resources, Education, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service.
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Security service shaved over beard dispute
KABUL (August 21): Afghanistan’s Morality Police have dismissed more than 280 members of the country’s security force for failing to grow a beard and detained more than 13,000 people for "immoral acts" in the past year, officials said.
The Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Propagation of Virtue said in its annual operations update that around half of those detained had been let go after 24 hours. It did not break down the type of the alleged offences or gender of the detainees.
Director of Planning and Legislation at the Ministry, Mohibullah Mokhlis told a press conference that officials had destroyed 21,328 musical instruments in the past year and prevented thousands of computer operators from selling "immoral and unethical" films in markets.
The Ministry, which took over the disbanded Ministry for Women’s premises in Kabul after the Taliban’s military victory in 2021, has been criticised by human rights organisations and the United Nations for restrictions on women and inhibiting freedom of expression.
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Nicaraguan Ministry in crackdown on NGOs
MANAGUA (August 21): Nicaragua's Interior Ministry has announced it has outlawed 1,500 non-Governmental organisations as part of a ban on groups it accuses of breaking the law.
The move, published in the official Government Gazette, also involves the confiscation of assets belonging to the mostly religious groups.
In a statement, the Ministry said the groups had not fulfilled their obligations by failing to disclose a range of financial information, including donations.
However, critics said the announcement was part of a longstanding crackdown on civil society groups viewed as hostile to President Daniel Ortega.
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Officers praised for getting into JAM
BELFAST (August 16): Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister, Caoimhe Archibald has welcomed confirmation that 17,000 Civil Servants have carried out the JAM (Just a Minute) card accreditation.
The JAM Card allows anyone with a learning difficulty, autism or communication barrier to tell others discreetly and easily they need ‘Just a Minute’.
Dr Archibald said JAM card accreditation was one of several ways the Government was raising awareness of disability, learning difficulties and neuro-diversity across the Civil Service.
“This supports the delivery of our public services and makes the working environment more inclusive by helping everyone feel valued and respected. To have the Civil Service as a JAM Card-friendly organisation is important to help support our colleagues and those who use our services,” Dr Archibald said.
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