The National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal (NARMIN) and the Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN) have expressed the need for a legal provision to designate the position of the chief administrative officer at the local level as a "specialized service." The frequent transfers of the chief administrative officer have had a significant impact on the regular delivery of services, development initiatives, and overall governance at the local level. The chief administrative officer currently does not stay in the same municipality for a duration of more than a year, despite the Civil Service Act requiring a minimum of two years of service in one office before transfer.
Rajendra Prasad Pyakurel, the executive director of the National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal (NARMIN), emphasized the importance of specialized services for the chief administrative officer in ensuring good governance and smooth service delivery at the local level. He argued that there should be a provision in the law that requires training and certification to become a chief administrative officer at the local level, much like the requirement to become a Chief District Officer.
To address the issue of frequent transfers, Pyakurel suggests that the ministry should assign employees at a higher level than the chief administrative officer to the local level and enforce a mandatory minimum stay of two years. In cases where a two-year stay is not possible, transfers should only be allowed with the consent of both the ministry and the local government. Additionally, the chief administrative officer should be held accountable to the local level where they serve and their performance evaluation should include the role of the head of the municipality. Finally, the chief administrative officer should be provided with better service facilities than other employees after their appointment.
Finally, the National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal (NARMIN) and the Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN) have highlighted the importance of designating the chief administrative officer at the local level as a specialized service to improve governance and service delivery. They have called for a legal provision to require training and certification, a mandatory minimum stay of two years, and accountability at the local level.
Key Points:
|
