Bill Makes Headway

After debates and deliberations lasting for weeks, the National Assembly has finally endorsed the much-talked-about Federal Civil Service Bill. Before the approval from the Upper House, the Legislative Management Committee settled disputes surrounding the retirement age of civil servants. It demonstrates the maturity in parliamentary debates, where priority was accorded to consensus over fragmentation. The bill is significant on several accounts. According to the bill, in the first year of its implementation, civil servants will retire at the age of 58 years, at 59 in the second year, and at 60 from the third year.

With this provision, any civil servant or government official who resigns or retires should wait for a period of two years before getting appointment to any government, diplomatic or constitutional post. This provision aims to prevent conflicts of interest. This provision of cooling-off is expected to maintain impartiality in bureaucracy as well as in constitutional posts.

The process of enacting the bill, however, was not without controversy. The foul game played in the provision of a cooling-off period while drafting the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives and the dispute over the retirement age clause in the Upper House once put the fate of the key bill in uncertainty. However, the Upper House successfully not only managed to correct the errors made in the Lower House but also solved the dispute of retirement age that surfaced.   

The National Assembly's collective approval is an indication that if politicians are ready to respect the principles of federalism and responsible governance, consensus can be forged. It also demonstrates that, despite their differences, political representatives can and are ready to put institutions ahead of considerations of their party.

The bill also has implications for provincial governance. It allows provincial service commissions to depute chief administrative officers in the local units that are under their jurisdiction. During the time that the public service commissions are not yet formed and operating at full capacity, the federal government will continue to deploy officials for 10 years but allow only one inter-provincial transfer in an entire career. The provinces had been seeking more clarity on this aspect. This bill responds to their calls and strengthens the federal structure.

But the real job is its effective implementation. Increasing the retirement age will benefit governance only if civil servants are accountable and tested on merit. If not, the reform could result in an extension of tenure without an increase in productivity. The cooling-off rule, even though it is needed, must be put into practice transparently and impartially. Provincial recruitment must be prompt and on a merit basis too, or else the federal bureaucracy promise would never be fulfilled.

The bill will turn into an Act after the House of Representatives endorses it, and the President authenticates it. The enactment of this bill is more than a technical amendment. It is a step toward building an apolitical, professional, and people-oriented civil service. Parliament has fulfilled its role by forging a consensus on the Bill. Now it is up to the government to ensure implementation adheres to the spirit of change. Only then will the people see a bureaucracy that truly serves the nation.