iGA cuts costs, boosts efficiency

Manama : Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive Mohamed Ali AlQaed stated that the authority has successfully reduced its operating cost and managed to eliminate a budget deficit estimated at BD2.1 Million. 

The move falls in line with the government’s directive to reduce costs without affecting the functioning of the authority. 

Some of the key decision included reducing the number of general directorates from 6 to 4, departments from 21 to 16, offices and service centre branches from 8 to 5 as well as merging contracts of projects costing millions of Dinars. 

On human resource management, AlQaed said the iGA has completed - in collaboration with the Civil Service Bureau – its general organisational structure as well as detailed structures for a number of Directorates. Work is also in progress to allocate employees, taking into account their specializations and career path. 

Such step, AlQaed said, aims at merging jobs of common duties, while thoroughly selecting competencies to lead directorates and departments.

The Chief Executive also addressed the re-distribution of directorates’ offices on iGA buildings and department members under one roof to enhance the internal communication and facilitate daily assignments. 

Branches at Sitra and Sihla were closed by transferring their services to the authority’s headquarters in Isa Town. Works are also in progress to transfer the Wireless Licensing, Frequencies and Monitoring Directorate in Adliya to Juffair branch.