Administration and the principle of quality [Archives:2004/769/Opinion]

Ismail Al-Ghabiri
The lingering questions that until now have not received adequate answers are: when will we see quality in the administration of Yemen? And when will there be administrative discipline?
Empty offices and vacant chairs, are an evidence of the negligence, apathy and the level of deterioration in the administration of most corporations. There are the so-called employees who have no clue who is the decision-maker at his or her corporation, employees who can not tell the legal status of one's formal papers, whether you are in the right queue for the processing of the documents or not.
Many employees, at any corporation or authority, have a misconception about the requirement of their attendance and the absence of procedures at administrative offices. Many employees come just to prove that they show up for work, and others do not show up except on paydays. Many Director-Generals and undersecretaries have other private jobs, on the pretext that the government salaries are not sufficient to cover the various utility bills.
The government has not come close to the treatment of this problem, or any other problem related to the living situations and conditions of citizens. May be because they are too hot and difficult to handle.
I hope that the mass media would embark on addressing this issue in order to stimulate those in the decision making circle, to pay more attention to administrative discipline, as it is a sovereignty-related issue and it is inter-connected with the life of every citizen. That would reflect the honesty and sincerity of the state.
One of the unique causes behind the current deterioration of administration in Yemen is the lack of an effective and reliable mailing system between the state and its employees. Or, even through government offices in governorates. The citizen must be able to meet the highest official at any corporation and authority.
The parliament must discuss the causes behind the absence of trust between citizens and the state administration. The Ministry of Civil Services, through conferences and seminars, must seek and find solutions that would create and strengthen trust between the two sides. The country needs an administration revolution that would bring back trust between the state corporations and citizens. Otherwise, it would be very difficult, in the light of the current level of apathy, negligence and deterioration, to build confidence and trust between citizens and the state.
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