Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Prime Minister's Office (Singapore)

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Headquarters
  
The Istana

Employees
  
618 (2010)

Prime Minister's Office (Singapore)

Jurisdiction
  
Government of Singapore

Annual budget
  
290.94 million SGD (2010)

Ministers responsible
  
Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for Transport and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure Chan Chun Sing, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Heng Chee How, Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State

Agency executives
  
Peter Ong Boon Kwee, Head of Civil Service, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties) Benny Lim , Permanent Secretary

The Prime Minister's Office (Abbreviation: PMO) is a ministerial level executive agency within the Government of Singapore that handles the ministries and other political matters that are of great importance to the nation, such as corruption and elections. It is headed by the Prime Minister and their top political staff. The PMO is located in the Istana, which is also the official residence and office for the President of Singapore.

Contents

Roles and functions

The PMO has several roles and functions, with regards to the national politics. They are:

  • To co-ordinate the activities of Ministries and the general policies of the Government and to provide overall policy direction
  • To eradicate corruption and maintain readiness for elections
  • To implement national research, innovation and enterprise strategies
  • To strive for robust security, a networked government and a resilient Singapore
  • To oversee, plan and co-ordinate programmes across multiple agencies and initiatives to engage the Overseas Singaporean community
  • To ensure the efficient and effective management of public service officers through sound personnel policies in service conditions, career development and staff training
  • To promote quality service and productivity
  • To provide secretariat support to the Public Service Commission (PSC).
  • To guide and co-ordinate whole-of-government efforts in the implementation of national population policies and programmes.
  • Portfolio

    The PMO handles many tasks. These include the Cabinet, the appointments of ministers and more. The tasks are listed below:

  • Cabinet Business
  • National Flag
  • Anthem Table of Precedence
  • Honours and Awards
  • Justices of the Peace
  • Prevention of Corrupt Practices
  • Elections
  • National Population Policies and Programmes
  • National Research, Innovation and Enterprise Coordination
  • National Security and Intelligence Co-ordination
  • Public Service for the 21st Century (PS21) Programme
  • Talent Management
  • Administrative Service
  • Appointments
  • Benefits
  • Compensation
  • Superannuation
  • Resort Management
  • PM2S
  • Personnel Boards
  • Appeals Board
  • Civil Service Industrial Relations
  • Staff Development Policy
  • Strategic Policy and Issues
  • Public Service Commission Secretariat
  • Public Policy Development Training
  • Public Administration and Management Training and Consulting
  • Banking, Currency, Insurance, Monetary & Securities Industry Affairs
  • Liaison with International and Regional Financial Organisations
  • Departments

    The Prime Minister's Office comprises a PMO (HQ), Corrupt Practice Investigation Bureau, Cyber Security Agency, Elections Department, National Research Foundation, National Security Co-ordination Secretariat, National Population and Talent Division, Public Service Division and Smart Nation Programme Office. Each department functions independently.

    The main function of PMO (HQ) is to provide corporate, logistics and administrative support to the Prime Minister.

    Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau

    The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) is an independent body which investigates and aims to prevent corruption in the public and private sectors in Singapore. Established in 1952, it derives its powers of investigation from the Prevention of Corruption Act. The bureau is headed by a director who is directly responsible to the Prime Minister.

    Cyber Security Agency

    The Cyber Security Agency (CSA) provides dedicated and centralised oversight of Singapore’s efforts in cyber security. The roles of the agency include engaging and working in partnership with the private sector, education and outreach, and strengthening cyber security for the nation’s critical services. It will develop a national cyber security strategy and implementation plans to build up capabilities against cyber threats. In addition, the CSA will perform crisis management and provide incident assistance to businesses and individuals through SingCERT.

    Elections Department

    The Elections Department (ELD) is responsible for planning and preparing for, and managing the conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections and of any national referendum in Singapore. ELD's work extends beyond the period of elections. Between elections, ELD must prepare and maintain readiness of the public service for the conduct of any elections.

    National Research Foundation

    The National Research Foundation (NRF) is tasked to coordinate the research of different agencies within the larger national framework in order to provide a coherent strategic overview and direction. It develops policies and plans to implement the five strategic thrusts for the national R&D agenda and to implement national research, innovation and enterprise strategies approved by the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council (RIEC), and to allocate funding to programmes that meet the NRF strategic objectives.

    National Security Coordination Secretariat

    The National Security Coordination Secretariat (NSCS) is an important central hub located within the Prime Minister's Office, tasked with national security planning and the coordination of policy and intelligence issues.

    National Population and Talent Division

    Inaugurated in January 2011, the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) strives to achieve a sustainable, connected and integrated population for Singapore. NPTD drives the coordination and implementation of population and talent policies across Government agencies. These include policies in the areas of population augmentation, supporting marriage and parenthood, talent attraction and retention, immigration and naturalisation, integration of newcomers, and engaging overseas Singaporeans.

    Public Service Division

    The Public Service Division (PSD) sets policy directions for shaping the public service through public sector leadership development and implementing progressive and effective human resource and development policies.

    Smart Nation Programme Office

    The Smart Nation Programme Office (SNPO)’s role is to take in perspectives and ideas from different sources, and integrate them to develop a whole-of-government, whole-of-nation approach to building a Smart Nation. To achieve the Smart Nation objectives, the Office will drive collaboration with and engagement of citizens and industry, oversee the development of cross-cutting Smart Nation enablers and coordinate the Smart Nation initiatives of the various agencies within Government.

    Statutory boards

    The PMO oversees two statutory boards. These are:

  • the Monetary Authority of Singapore; and
  • the Civil Service College.
  • References

    Prime Minister's Office (Singapore) Wikipedia