Imihigo: Bill seeks to raise bar on targets for public servants

Working beyond conventional job description to achieve targets, loosely referred to as ‘going the extra mile,’ will be one of the indicators of good performance for local government leaders once a new law governing results-based performance management in public service is adopted. Tabling the draft law before Parliament on Wednesday, the Minister for Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA), Judith Uwizeye, said if the Bill is enacted into law, institutions and workers will pledge results, not merely what they intend to do (activities). “This is a good move because it will make people not only work, but also work with an aim and a vision they want to attain,” Uwizeye said. Citing an example, the minister said there are teachers who have been committing to arrive at work on time, teach, mark examinations under their performance contract (Imihigo) yet these are normal duties of a teacher. “Now, if a head teacher of a given school sets a target to have 90 per cent of the students pass examinations, a teacher will have to devise a strategy to ensure students’ success. They might dedicate some extra time to students for more explanation or commit to giving students daily homework and mark it daily,” she explained. The minister warned that civil servants who will fail to meet their targets will be held accountable. Normally, civil servants who score below 60 per cent in their appraisal are dismissed. She cited the example of the Government’s target to create 200,000 off-farm jobs per annum as a joint target implemented by various ministries, including MIFOTRA, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and EAC Affairs, and the Ministry of Education. It would be a collective failure if the target (the 200,000 off-farm jobs) is not achieved, she said. Members of the parliamentary Public Accounts (PAC), examining the Bill, said the new legislation would contribute to more growth as it is in line with the country’s development agenda. The MPs and government officials concurred that it was improper for public entities to include ordinary duties under their job description in performance contracts. A performance contract should reflect actions that go beyond one’s official responsibilities, in an effort to contribute significantly to the attainment of the country’s development goals, the lawmakers said. Under the proposed arrangement, the minister said, the highest officer in a given institution or agency will first sign the general performance contract for their entity, then other members of staff will follow according to hierarchy, with specific activities to help attain the overall targets. PAC chairperson Juvénal Nkusi said a new monitoring system should be set in such way that vague performance contracts are rejected. Joint performance contracts Minister Uwizeye said under the joint Imihigo, evaluation will consider more the end result more than the efforts made by each of the actors. This approach, according to the minister, is in line with promoting collective responsibility. But MP Theogène Munyangeyo and PAC deputy chairperson Théoneste Karenzi suggested that individual responsibility in joint performance contracts should be reflected in the law to hold accountable underperformers. Minister Uwizeye said, at the institutional level, an entity that performs better will get higher points. Imihigo initiative was introduced in 2006 in local government entities as a way to achieve goals set out in the government’s four pillars; economic development, good governance, justice and social welfare. The minister said performance contracts were later introduced in public service but had no guiding legal framework. The Bill also seeks to harmonise planning for performance contracts with the financial year for better implementation. editorial@newtimec.co.rw

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Imihigo: Bill seeks to raise bar on targets for public servants