Besides being Nikšić's advisor, Tica Isović is also a civil servant: She must be held accountable for insulting the citizens of Jablanica!

By Amina Čorbo-Zećo

"A civil servant is impartial and particularly avoids activities or omissions in the performance of their professional duties that violate or are incompatible with the duties established by law, and particularly refrains from publicly expressing their political beliefs and does not abuse religious beliefs!

Laws, regulations, and ethical codes are, therefore, clear. However, Jasenka Tica Isović, advisor to the Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nermin Nikšić, expressed her outrage on Instagram in a very inappropriate manner because the citizens of Jablanica elected SDA's candidate Emir Muratović as their new mayor.

"At three in the morning, you call Neka and Neka is with you, Neka helps. Neka for everything for Jablanica. Everything for you, people of Jablanica. What a nice thank you. With due respect, here you have a hodža, now you will finish everything in two days. Complete disappointment. Dado, chin up, everyone chooses as they deserve,” Tica Isović wrote on her Instagram profile.

With such a statement, she grossly violated the Law on Civil Service, Article 4, Paragraph 1, according to which civil service ensures the observance and application of principles, including political independence.

And Tica Isović did the opposite, particularly humiliating the citizens of Jablanica, who, let's be clear, did not call Neka (as she affectionately calls Prime Minister Nikšić), but the Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and would have called any other person holding the position of Prime Minister in the same way.

However, it is little known that Tica Isović, in addition to her role as advisor, is actually a civil servant!? In the register of civil servants at the Civil Service Agency, she is listed as a civil servant – expert associate.

She came to Nikšić's cabinet as an advisor from Federal Radio (she held editorial positions), but during the period before the 2023 competition on which she was hired, she worked without formal employment.

Then, through the competition, she was hired for a position in the Sector for Policy Coordination and Affairs of Detached Offices of the General Secretariat, Department for Policy Coordination, and became an expert associate for information, but was assigned to Nikšić's Cabinet.

It is therefore clear that the Decree on the Rules of Disciplinary Procedure for Disciplinary Responsibility of Civil Servants in Civil Service Bodies must be applied in this case.

The Code of Ethics for Civil Servants in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina also prescribes conduct in public appearances.

„A civil servant is obliged to present the views of the state body in all forms of public appearance and activity in which they represent the state body, in accordance with regulations, authorizations, professional title, and this code of ethics.

- In public appearances where they do not represent the state body, the civil servant must not disclose information from the scope of work of the state body or the duties of their position, which could damage the reputation of the state body and the trust of citizens in the work of the state body.

- When expressing personal views and opinions, as well as other information through social networks and other media, a civil servant is obliged to take care of their personal reputation and the reputation of the civil service.“

The Decree on the Rules of Disciplinary Procedure regulates, in Article 16, Inappropriate Conduct of a Civil Servant

„A civil servant who behaves inappropriately towards citizens, colleagues, and other persons in the performance of civil service shall be punished with a disciplinary measure.“

The issue of accountability must be raised, because belittling the citizens of Jablanica, who have experienced one of the greatest natural disasters and a great tragedy, must not go unpunished and unnoticed!”