On October 3rd, 2023, at the Government Palace in Dili, the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, swore in Agapito da Conceição to serve as Commissioner of the Civil Service Commission (CFP) on a full-time basis until May 29th, 2025, following an appointment by the National Parliament in the election held on August 29th, 2023.
Agapito da Conceição, as a civil servant at the CFP Secretariat, where he held the position of director”, “knows well the difficulties, challenges and complexity of the mission he is receiving today”, the Minister pointed out.
Agio Pereira argued that “14 years into its existence, the CFP, now in its third term, is facing major challenges set by the 9th Constitutional Government’s program”, “which include improving the effectiveness, efficiency and professionalism of the Public Administration apparatus, to provide better, high-quality public services, as a crucial factor in reducing poverty and the progress and well-being of the population”.
To achieve these goals, the Minister highlighted “the design and local development of a new, comprehensive and modern human resources management system”, “the necessary and urgent implementation of effective mechanisms to control the size and efficiency of the civil service” to support “the decentralisation process in all municipalities”, “the de-partisanship of the civil service and the adoption of merit principles” and the duty to “support public administration bodies in preparing their staff and adjusting their procedures, in line with the principles enshrined by ASEAN”.
Agapito da Conceição expressed his commitment to carry out his duties “with the utmost impartiality, dedication and responsibility and to always taking due account of the interests of the State, the Government’s Program and the values of civil service” and pledged to “work in defence of the public good and serve the community and the people with impartiality, honesty, professionalism and correctness, safeguarding the best interests of the nation”.
The Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Dias Ximenes; the President of the Civil Service Commission, Faustino Cardoso Gomes, th; Commissioners of the Civil Service Commission, Fausto Freitas da Silva, Maria de Jesus Sarmento and Carmeneza dos Santos Monteiro; the Director General of CAC, Luis Ercio de Jesus Ximenes Guterres; the Inspector General of the State, Francisco de Carvalho; the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, Virgílio Guterres; the Chief of Staff of the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Vitor Maia; the Director General of Administration of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Pedro Feno; and other Civil Service Commission representatives attended this swearing-in ceremony.