The civil service is undergoing a restructuring under the watchful eye of Bezabih Gebreyes, head of the Civil Service Commission, nearly a year after the formation of a new administration.

Last October, Parliament approved restructuring the executive branch, with the number of ministerial portfolios climbing by three to 22.

Bezabih, appointed to lead the Commission in 2018, oversees the restructuring process. A long track record in supervising public sector reforms makes him ideal for the job. He has worked at the Commission for over two decades, directing a reform programme introduced in the mid-1990s.

Reforming the public service sector is a complex and challenging task involving fundamental changes in the rules of engagement that require a long-term commitment and adequate knowledge, says Shumay Berhie (PhD), a public administration lecturer at Addis Abeba University. Although poorly-functioning public institutions need restructuring, repeated attempts at reform could potentially have an adverse impact, he cautions.

"It could weaken service delivery and undermine civil servants' motivation," said Shumay.

Over the past three decades, no less than six major civil service reform programmes have been implemented. All were undertaken with a top-down approach, which the expert says was a factor for the perceived lack of commitment, particularly at the bottom of the hierarchy.

The ongoing restructuring Bezabih oversees is the second major civil service restructuring in two decades. Bezabih was also involved in the administration's downsizing in 2018, a few months after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) took office, to 19 ministries.

The latest restructuring comes following a directive by the Commission last November to manage the redeployment of civil servants. It directs public offices to establish six-member committees that submit proposals for an organisational structure to the Commission before commencing with the redeployment of staff. Over half a dozen ministerial offices have done so thus far.

A few of them were returned for alteration because they did not meet the standards, according to Nigist Geremew, director of communications.

Last month, the Commission approved a submission by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) under Umer Hussein. The Ministry employs over 1,400 civil servants.