Cabinet to form committee to modernise public sector

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to form a committee to modernise the public sector.

During a Cabinet session, virtually chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh, the Council of Ministers formed the committee with the chairmanship of Khasawneh and membership of several ministers, officials, experts in public administration and figures from the private sector, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Khasawneh said that modernising the public sector has become a necessity for its being a main driver for economic reforms and other reforms associated with developing the political system.

The committee will work within a timeframe of six months, after which it will offer a comprehensive roadmap and an executive programme to modernise public administration and facilitate procedures, he noted. 

The prime minister also highlighted the importance of the committee to work as part of public and private sector partnership and experts to reach the required outcomes under legislative, institutional and service development aspects.

Khasawneh said the legislative aspect will include revisiting all laws to match the best international practices, enhance values of efficiency and institutionalism to improve public administration, develop the culture of public employees regarding offering services to citizens and deal with the private sector as a partner.

The premier noted that the institutional aspect includes considering the merging of some independent institutions, and later the possibility of merging some ministries with the aim of enhancing the efficiency of the public sector. 

As for the third aspect, the prime minister called for focusing on automating public services, improving the investment environment and developing basic services, such as health, education, transport and social care. 

Khasawneh referred to the challenges that faced public administration in the Kingdom over the past years in terms of the decline in performance and bureaucratic procedures, in addition to the dire need to train human personnel, which all constituted an obstacle for citizens and investors. 

The committee includes Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nasser Shraideh, Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs Ibrahim Jazi, Minister of State for Follow-up and Government Coordination Nawaf Tal, and Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Ahmad Hanandeh. 

Other members are Director General of the Jordan Strategy Forum Nisreen Barakat, President of the Civil Service Bureau Sameh Nasser, Executive Director of the King Abdullah II Centre for Excellence Ibrahim Rawabdeh, former secretary general of the Civil Service Bureau Badriyyeh Bilbeissi, 

The committee also includes managing partner of Ernst & Young in the Levant, Iraq and Libya Waddah Barkawi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jordan Ahli Bank Saad Muasher, Samar Obeid, and a legal expert to be named by the prime minister.