Government digitizes civil service records to combat delays, corruption

The Cameroon government is hopeful that the problem of civil service workers chasing files at ministries in Yaounde for retirement benefits and salaries will soon be an issue of the past.

That is because the Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reforms (MINFOPRA) has introduced a new computerised version of the system called SIGIPES to eliminate the barriers that have fueled corruption and bribery in the civil service.

The system, which was rolled out recently, is digital and automatic and will work simultaneously for over a year before a complete switch from the manual system.

Chairing the interministerial committee in charge of monitoring and controlling the new information system, the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, Joseph Le, said, “This new human resources management tool of the state and pay is essential for the modernization of our public administration, by the high directives of the Head of State, H.E. Paul Biya.”

He added that this important software package made it possible to make a clear observation that the new system is functional and presents all the contractual advantages.

With the new system, human resource personnel in various ministries and regional services have been trained so that once information is inserted into the system, it can be seen by any ministry.

In the management of carriers and payroll in Cameroon, Joseph Le explained that, when a civil servant is recruited, his or her identity will be uploaded at once. So, everything about the person will be tracked through new files in the digitalized system without them having to go from one area to another to deposit or follow-up files.

“Many things we do today will now be digitalized. Many things will be automatic,” he said, adding that the state has millions of pieces of information about the management of carriers and payroll that need careful handling.

The system, he added, will have several backups in different places in case of any unforeseen danger.

Retired civil servants in Cameroon have previously found it very difficult retrieving their retirement benefits.

The laborious process has promoted deep-rooted bribery and corruption whereby retired workers, in a desperate bid to secure their pension, bribe people in the Ministries to follow up their documents and get their files to be processed.

©Mimi Mefo Info