Learning the art of resigning

The public institutions as their names indicate are established to serve the public and they are accountable to the public in their performance. Although the country is a new nation, mistakes committed by public servants should not remain uncorrected. The appointed or even elected constitutional holders and the higher ranking officials in the government must learn the art of resigning when they fail to perform their duties, they should not wait to resign. When one resigns in one institution, he may succeed in another field. According to Wikipedia website, a resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one’s office or position. A resignation can occur when a person holding a position gained by election or appointment steps down, but leaving a position upon the expiration of a term is not considered resignation. When an employee chooses to leave a position it is considered a resignation, as opposed to termination, which occurs when the employee involuntarily loses a job. Whether an employee resigned or was terminated is sometimes a topic of dispute, because in many situations, a terminated employee is eligible for severance pay and/or unemployment benefits, whereas one who voluntarily resigns may not be eligible. Abdication is the equivalent of resignation of a reigning monarch or pope, or other holder of a non-political, hereditary or similar position. A resignation is a personal decision to exit a position, though outside pressure exists in many cases. For example, Richard Nixon resigned from the office of President of the United States in 1974 following the Watergate scandal, when he was almost certain to have been impeached by the United States Congress. Resignation can be used politically, as in the Philippines during July 2005 when ten cabinet officials resigned in order to put pressure on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to do the same over allegations of electoral fraud. Alternatively, resignation as a procedure may be used as a political manoeuvre. In 1995, the British Prime Minister, John Major, resigned as Leader of the Conservative Party in order to contest a leadership election with the aim of silencing his critics within the party and reasserting his authority. Having resigned, he stood again and was re-elected. Although government officials may tender their resignations, they are not always accepted. This could be a gesture of confidence in the official, as with US President George W. Bush’s refusal of his Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s twice-offered resignation during the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal. However, refusing a resignation can be a method of severe censure if it is followed by dismissal; Alberto Fujimori attempted to resign as President of Peru, but his resignation was refused in order that Congress could fire him. The country since its independence, has been witnessing many problems, including insecurity among others in the capital and in other areas, where many people lost their lives including foreigners. The big problem with the South Sudanese, is refusing to admit our mistakes and accept criticism when thing got wrong, some people who hold positions in public institutions do think that these institutions are their private organizations and the public has nothing to say about what they do whether it is wrong or not. In conclusion, our leaders are advised to learn of resignation when they are able to perform well in jobs they were assigned to perform. The President of the Republic is advised not to wait for such leaders to resign when grave mistakes occurred; they should be forced to resign, for history will not forgive anyone who had made the public institution as his/her private organization. The President should not wait for reshuffling of the cabinet to remove such a person from the office, for that official shall continue repeating the same mistake that may affect the lives of the people. The author of this article is appealing for conducting of workshop about the art of resigning for constitutional post holders at all levels of governments, including the senior officials. May God Bless South Sudan.