Cameroon’s Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, Joseph Le, has announced the dismissal of 1,172 civil servants due to chronic absenteeism. This action is part of the government’s ongoing effort to ensure discipline and effectiveness within the civil service through the Physical Counting of State Personnel (COPPE) initiative.
The dismissed employees were found to be receiving salaries without rendering any services, contributing to the issue of “ghost workers” in the public sector. Despite repeated warnings and calls for explanations, only a small fraction of the summoned officials responded, leading to disciplinary action.
This move follows earlier phases of the COPPE initiative, which have already seen thousands of irregular employees removed from the payroll, saving the state significant amounts of money annually. The government remains committed to cleaning up the payroll and ensuring that only active and accountable employees are compensated.
The COPPE initiative, launched in 2018, aims to identify and eliminate ghost workers from the public payroll. It involves a thorough verification process, including biometric registration and physical presence checks. The initiative has been praised for its role in improving transparency and accountability within the civil service.
Minister Joseph Le emphasized that the government will continue to take strict measures against absenteeism and other forms of misconduct in the public sector. He urged all civil servants to adhere to their duties and responsibilities, warning that any further violations would be met with similar disciplinary actions.
The dismissal of these 1,172 civil servants is a significant step towards ensuring a more efficient and accountable public service in Cameroon. It also sends a strong message to all public sector employees about the importance of integrity and dedication to their roles.Cameroon sacks 1,172 civil servants for chronic absenteeism
