OBJECTIVE 4: Upholding the Separation of Powers, including the Protection of the Independence of the Judiciary and an effective Legislature 3.2.12: Strengthening of Parliament for Effective Oversight Functions – A Parliamentary Service Commission was established by the Parliamentary Service Act of 2007. This development ensured parliamentary powers to hire and fire staff members as well as adequate capacitating support for effective oversight functions. With this development, Parliament now has comparatively required staff and infrastructure to carry out its work including committee clerks, library and office spaces. A Parliamentary Assistance Coordinating Office to coordinate all donor funds to parliament has also been established and through UNDP support, registers have been provided to enhance legislative functions. Auditor General Reports are now adequately debated and committees’ hearings are now open to the public. OBJECTIVE 5: Ensuring accountable and efficient public office holders and civil servants and promoting participation of civil society and media in governance 3.2.13 –Ensuring public servants efficient service delivery through a Performance contracting system – Determined to promote efficient service delivery of public servants, Government introduced a performance contracting system. In participating in the signing ceremony of performance contracts on August 4, 2016 at the Bank Complex in Freetown by Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Local Councils, Tertiary Institutions and State Owned Enterprises organized by the Performance Management and Service Delivery (PMSD) Directorate in the Office of the Chief of Staff at State House, His Excellency the President , Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma noted that : “Performance contracting helps not only in planning, monitoring, self-assessment and improving the APRM Sierra Leone | Annual Progress Report performance of the public service, but also promotes productivity, enhances resource mobilization, collaboration and coordination in view of the achievement of the overall national agenda. He also noted that to improve public service delivery, “each public institution should be able to identify its needs, prepare its budget and show value for money in implementing its activities.” The president recalled that before 2008, no government minister or public servant would think of being called upon to give account of his/her stewardship to civil society groups, his peers and the general public, adding that starting with just 22 MDAs, the government is now signing contracts with 95 public institutions in a bid to reengineering public service operations in meeting the growing demands of service delivery. He also pointed out that the public service is increasingly becoming conscious of building synergies and experience sharing. While commending all participants for their continuous efforts, President Koroma noted that there has been a general improvement in the governance system and encouraged all to work very hard. “There would be reward for excellence and punitive actions for poor performance,” he revealed. He also stated that public institutions must align programmes to overall governance agenda as the ceremony is a further testimony to effective service delivery, transparency and public accountability. EACH PUBLIC INSTITUTION SHOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY ITS NEEDS, PREPARE ITS BUDGET AND SHOW VALUE FOR MONEY IN IMPLEMENTING ITS ACTIVITIES. 29