In the small commune of N’sele, an administrative building is struggling with an unusual proliferation of civil servants. What was originally intended to be a space to house the decentralized services of the Ministry of the Interior has become a real logistical challenge.
Indeed, in addition to the planned services, all the other municipal services of various ministries are now housed in these premises. This forced promiscuity creates working conditions that are far from ideal for the administrative agents who work there.
The testimonies of the civil servants present on the premises reveal an acute awareness of the precariousness of the conditions in which they operate on a daily basis. Meeting rooms divided into cramped rooms of 2 square meters, offices shared by various different services in a small space, and difficulties in handling sensitive files in privacy: this is the picture described of the daily life of these agents.
Within this cramped environment, about twenty agents share chairs and juggle with their restricted spaces to welcome visitors and handle files. The forced cohabitation of various departments creates tensions, and sharing the same office for two separate departments does not make the task any easier.
Lack of discretion is a major concern for some civil servants, who are forced to handle confidential information in shared spaces without confidentiality. Having to conduct important meetings or receive visitors in narrow corridors is not only disruptive but can also compromise the work done.
It is also mentioned that this overcrowding is due to the allocation of new units to the commune of N’sele, without taking into account the limited space available. Despite reports sent to the hierarchy, the necessary adjustments are slow to be implemented, leaving agents in precarious working conditions.
This situation highlights the need for more efficient management of resources and space within the public administration. It is imperative to guarantee optimal working conditions for civil servants so that they can carry out their missions in the best possible conditions.