Public services need a face lift By Elizabeth Makonnen August 07, 2007 We have seen positive progress taking place in Ethiopia as we speak. This is very encouraging for us Ethiopians outside the country to really think of making a move towards joining our folks back home in their endeavours. But there are some issues need to be addressed to make this move as smooth as possible. Having enjoying the high level of service our host countries offer their customers, it is some times hard to imagine missing this high standard of service. But I believe this should not deter us from going back home but work towards making the public service sector workable... At this junction, I strongly believe that our public services need an over haul. These institutions which are installed to give fair and sound services to the public should understand their performance is evaluated by the public they serve. They should also understand the food they are putting on the table comes from the pocket of their clients. No client = No food. All public servants as the name indicates are there to serve the public not the public to serve them. This observation comes on proven experience during last trip to Ethiopia. I was dumbfounded when a fellow in charge of a section in one of the government offices, who was supposed to help me with my request walked out from his office to have a cup of tea in a commercial café across the road. I can sense cursing me for coming seeking his service. I was stunned and surprised, this gentle man came back to be hooked up in a marathon phone conversation. By the sound of it, not work related. And my disappointment goes on and on. I wasted my precious time for a simple signature. If you put clients’ time and the “officer in charge’s” time into calculations hundreds and thousands of $ just gone to the drain from the tax confers every working day. Many people I shared my experience think better to give a kick back (in other words –bribe) and expedite the process. Tempting, but not the right thing to go about. This will not be in line with our fight against corruption. I am putting my plea to the department who runs the public sector to assess closely and take measure to the joy of many who share the same sentiment as I do. Poor and inefficient public service is not conducive at all to keep up the pace to capacity building at a desired speed. Having said, that, I can’t help but admire the determination of the government to end poverty against the odds. Roads, schools, institute of higher education, hospitals, clinics, are being build. Infant mortality has dropped, economic growth is double digit, Violence against women is being addressed, free expression of speech is uphold , the harvest of hard work of men and women on the land is promising. The things that looked luxury to Ethiopians years back are becoming part of the daily life many. There still are many issues need to be addressed in order each and every one to be beneficiary of this economic revolution. The bottom line is the light at the end of the tunnel is bright enough to shine the road home. I will leave you with a story my late father told me once. “A certain Prime minister of Italy (it must be long time ago), when he was encountered with mismanagement, inefficiency, corruption and undesired bureaucracy in the public service, he said *“We have built schools, universities, roads, hospitals, clinics and factories. What is remaining is to build people to run and use them effectively” *(sorry for not remembering who said it). Elizabeth Makonnen Aug, 2007 Home