Most civil servants think that a change in senior management will necessarily result in similar change at the lower tiers of management. They also think that a new senior appointee, whether a minister or a departmental boss, will bring with him his own team and dispense with a large number of employees of the ministry or institution.
This is a widespread belief. Possibly, there is talk now in different ministries and departments about inevitable and imminent changes. Some people think some faces will disappear from these ministries to pave the way for new faces, including civil servants at different management levels.
This idea is not correct in general. I do not think any government official or minister is ready to do without qualified persons in their institutions. They are not ready to do without experienced staff members either. These experienced staff members represent the lifeblood of the institutions. They have competencies that make them superior to others in the same position.
Everybody is keen to keep these competencies, which are sought after by almost everybody, being indispensable qualities. However, it is a different story if these competent individuals decide to move to other jobs where they can enjoy better benefits.
Some people may say that there have been instances in the past where qualified Qataris were forced to quit when administrative changes occurred in different institutions or ministries. These people cite the example of some people who were referred for retirement in the past under what came to be known as the “central article”.
I agree with this view, but I cannot describe it as a phenomenon that always espouses changes in the administration of the different institutions. Changes in institutions do not necessarily result in mass removal of all existing cadres to open the way for new ones.
I always believe that competencies are qualities to prove their mettle, as irreplaceable individuals. When a specific administration or ministry forgoes competent individuals, it is the loser, not the individual, because other institutions can attract him with better privileges and benefits, particularly in our society where Qataris are sought after in different sectors, especially in private and mixed sectors.
Such miscalculated decisions might have been taken at a specific period, but this does not represent a policy or approach in different ministries and institutions.
I attended a meeting with a new minister, who is known for his competence, and our discussions during the meeting focused on a rumour about the new minister’s plans to get rid of some ministry employees.
“How can I do without people who work hard and who are responsible for specific files inside the ministry,” the minister asked during the meeting. “How can I do without these people? I cannot judge the performance of anybody from day one, even if they are not up to the standard. I need to get acquainted with work, the different departments and the general performance of the employees. I need to know about the production of these employees and their commitment to work.”
The minister added that he does not have a list of the people whose service must be terminated as rumours go.
This was what this experienced minister said.
I am certain that all ministers always search for qualified individuals, and priority will be given to Qatari competencies in the future. The creation of the Ministry of Administrative Development, which is headed by His Excellency Dr. Essa bin Saad Al Nuaemy, one of the people we feel proud of, is proof of the attention paid to Qatari competencies and the need to hone their skills and upgrade them. This is also something that is oft-underlined by our wise leadership.
The speech of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and prior to that the speech of H H Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, goes hand in hand with the idea of giving priority to citizens in different aspects, education, training, and employments to take part in the leadership of the country .
This policy makes it necessary for Qataris to shoulder their own responsibilities to be up to the challenges they will face in the days to come. As people will never be hired for the sack of employment, but there must be requirements, competencies, competitions, and our youths should be up to this challenge.
I am sure that our youths will be up to the responsibilities entrusted to them in the future. They will be outstanding in their performances and productivity. They will be very keen to prove themselves, as some Qatari cadres did, managed to occupy highly respected positions inside and outside Qatar, and distinguished with outstanding performances. They are a source of pride for this country.
Some people have already left their positions in some ministries and institutions. But this does not mean that these people have already left the field altogether. They may be able to prove themselves in other places.
This drives home the importance of self-development. This is the responsibility of employees as well as institutions and ministries. Employees need to take the initiative, not just wait to be given assignments by their different administrations. Creativity will be badly needed in the days to come. Employees do not need to turn into mere machines that carry out the assignments given them. They do not need to do the same thing over and over again every day.
When individual initiatives disappear, innovativeness makes itself scarce. We are in bad need to put a high price on innovativeness. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says: “Allah likes that when someone does anything it must be done perfectly well”.
Doing things perfectly well is a requirement of our religion. It is also our duty toward our country. It delivers the correct message about creative Qataris who always seek to improve their skills and take the initiative.
I am certain that qualified Qataris are top priority for H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Naser Al Thani, the prime minister and the minister of the interior, who is always keen to encourage them to take their skills steps forward. Everybody must have seen this drive in the past few years.
All the ministries and the ministers are also keen to attract qualified Qataris to work in them and with them. Nobody can do without these qualified Qataris and when they leave their places of work, these qualified people will be at the centre of attention by all institutions, which will seek to give them even more benefits.
