Nepal Government Intensifies Deployment of Administrative Officers to Local Levels

Kathmandu. The federal government has aggressively moved forward with the management of civil servants at the local level. The government's decision to expedite the deployment of Chief Administrative Officers according to the designated quotas in local levels, which have long been operating under acting officials, has caused a stir in administrative circles.

The ministry stated that some employees have begun resigning after the government started sending those enjoying comfortable postings to remote areas. By the time the current government was formed, the state of local administration in the country was dire. According to data as of Chaitra 10, out of 753 local levels across the country, nearly one-fourth, or 174 municipalities, were without a Chief Administrative Officer. Operating under acting officials meant that policy decisions and the implementation of major projects at the local level were virtually stalled.

Specifically, out of 11 sub-metropolitan cities, 6 were without administrative leadership, while 90 out of 276 municipalities (33 percent) had vacant positions for Chief Administrative Officers at the Under-Secretary level. Similarly, out of 460 rural municipalities, 78 had vacant positions for Section Officers.

Currently, only 11 out of 276 municipalities have vacant Chief Administrative Officer positions. The ministry is working to ensure staff are sent to those locations within this week. Among the 460 rural municipalities, only Gaumul Rural Municipality in Bajura appears to have a vacancy.

Although complaints about staff not reaching some rural municipalities have been heard, the ministry maintains that decisions have been made and employees are in transit. The ministry noted that there might be some delay in arrival as the law provides a 21-day period for reporting to duty. Currently, only 13 local levels have vacant administrative officer positions. The ministry has brought its campaign to end the 'acting' practice by filling positions in 740 local levels close to success.

• Resignations due to attachment to comfortable postings

Discontent has risen as the ministry began prioritizing the transfer of employees who have been residing in the Kathmandu Valley and accessible areas for a long time and were unwilling to move to local levels. Due to this dissatisfaction, some high-level officials have started resigning.

Among those resigning is Under-Secretary Bhim Koirala, who was transferred from Chief District Officer (CDO) of Dolpa to Assistant CDO of Panchthar. He resigned feeling that the dignity of his position had been diminished.

Similarly, ministry sources stated that Section Officer Ganesh Ghimire also submitted his resignation after being required to leave his comfortable posting at Singha Durbar for Mallekh Rural Municipality in Achham.

Chudamani KC, working at the Pokhara International Airport Immigration Office, resigned after being transferred to Kumakh Rural Municipality in Salyan. Likewise, Hari Paudel, transferred to Byas Rural Municipality in Darchula, also resigned citing personal reasons. Section Officer Shekhar Nidhi Paudyal, transferred to Tarkeshwor Rural Municipality in Nuwakot, also deemed it better to resign than to serve in a remote area. However, the ministry stated that it has not received official information regarding these resignations, though it has received informal reports.

• Birgunj Metropolitan City's account frozen

A strange and complex problem has emerged in Birgunj Metropolitan City during the staff deployment process. Although the ministry sent a Chief Administrative Officer at the Joint-Secretary level according to the quota, the Mayor there has refused to allow him to report for duty. Consequently, the ministry has frozen the operation of Birgunj Metropolitan City's bank account. The ministry has written to the metropolitan city to allow the designated official to report for duty and to proceed with financial transactions under his signature.

• Government Policy: Mandatory local level for new recruits

The ministry has also made some important policy changes for staff management. A policy has been adopted where the first posting for newly promoted employees will mandatorily be at the local level. The ministry's policy is to prioritize the deployment of employees who have been staying within the Kathmandu Valley and accessible areas for a long time and are unwilling to go to local levels.

However, considering the human aspect, the ministry stated that employees with only one year left until mandatory retirement will not be sent to local levels against their will. A Joint-Secretary at the ministry said that they are trying to implement a 'rotation' system to send all capable employees, except those suffering from critical illnesses like cancer or kidney disease or those facing cases in the Special Court, to local levels in turns.

In some cases, when a new employee replaces an acting official, it takes 5 to 10 days for the transfer of financial and administrative authority, which may cause temporary disruptions, but the ministry believes this will help in good governance in the long run. 'There is a legal provision to report for duty within 21 days. This causes some vacancies here and there, but it does not last long,' said a ministry official.

• Minister's warning: No compromise on public service

Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Pratibha Rawal, has made it clear that a zero-tolerance policy will be adopted towards employees who hesitate to go to the places they are transferred or assigned. Stating that no one has the luxury to refuse to go where the government assigns them, she warned such employees to 'make way'.

'The government is ready to face any challenge to provide easy service to the public,' said Minister Rawal, 'Employees are servants of the state, so they must go where the government deems necessary. If someone does not want to go, they should make way; another qualified person will come in their place.'

According to a Joint-Secretary at the ministry, due to the Minister's strict instructions and the ministry's active involvement, all 753 local levels will have leadership according to their quotas within some time. He expressed the belief that this will lead to improvements in the performance of local governments.

Local levels appear enthusiastic about the rapid deployment of Chief Administrative Officers. Local levels had been facing financial and administrative problems due to the long-term absence of Chief Administrative Officers. The National Association of Rural Municipalities and the Municipal Association of Nepal have praised the government for prioritizing this. They stated that the federal government should now pay similar attention to the issue of account officers at the local level.