Television sets in government offices symbolises lack of seriousness – NDPC Chairman

The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Nii Moi Thompson, has strongly criticised the presence of television sets in government offices, describing them as “the ultimate symbol of this country” and its lack of seriousness towards productivity and national development.

Speaking in an interview on Citi FM, Dr Thompson shared a personal experience from his office, where he encountered a television mounted on the wall upon assuming his role. 

He immediately ordered its removal, emphasising that government workers were not paid to watch television.

“I said, No, we are not paid to come here and watch television, so get rid of it. You're going to get rid of it,” he stated.

Dr Thompson recounted instances where televisions in government offices had created an environment of distraction rather than efficiency. He recalled walking into a government building where staff at the reception desk were so engrossed in watching television that he was able to walk straight to the minister’s office without being questioned.

“I've been to places where I walk through reception, straight to the minister's office, and no one asked me a question because everyone was watching television,” he revealed.

His concerns went beyond general news consumption. He noted that some government workers were found watching telenovelas and inappropriate content, even during official working hours.

“It wasn’t just soap operas, but soft porn… 10 a.m. in government offices, and you could walk through reception. Nobody asked [anything],” he lamented.

Dr Thompson linked these distractions to low productivity levels in the public sector, arguing that poor work ethic is a major reason why government employees often complain about their salaries.

“Then they wonder why their salaries are low, because productivity is low,” he stated.

He stressed that productivity is key to economic growth, job creation, and wage improvement, and that inefficient workplace behaviour undermines these goals.

“The only way [economic growth, job creation, and wage increase] can happen is through productivity… If the systems are so lax that people will show up and not do anything, they will show up and not do anything,” he warned.

Dr Thompson urged strict organisational reforms to curb inefficiencies in public offices. He hinted at disciplinary action against those who defy his directive to remove televisions from government workplaces.

“I've told them. I see they're still hanging, so someone’s going to pay a price for that,” he cautioned.

His remarks have sparked fresh debate on discipline, accountability, and efficiency in the public sector, with many calling for urgent measures to enhance productivity in government institutions.