Political commitment needed to discourage irregularities: Paudyal

KATHMANDU, SEP 22 -

Chief Secretary Leelamani Paudyal on Sunday sought strong political commitment to enable the bureaucracy to be tougher on controlling rising irregularities at government agencies.

With lawmakers seeking action from the bureaucracy to curb the irregularities that has stood as high as Rs 242.19 billion as per the 51th annual report of the Office of Auditor General, Paudyal  said political commitment is a must amid increased influence of employees affiliated to political parties.

Of the total irregularities, 38.38 percent is related to advance, 51.38 percent regularised and 10.24 percent is related to “recoverable”, according to the OAG report.  

The Financial Procedures Act 2007 defines “irregularity” as “financial transactions that occurred without complying with provisions stated in the existing law, accounts not maintained as required by the law and transactions made in an irregular or irrational manner”.

Speaking at a discussion programme organised by the Parliamentary Public Account Committee (PAC), which has announced the current fiscal year as “Irregularities Clearance Campaign Year”, Paudyal  said the secretaries were not in a position to take the responsibility of the irregularities at public enterprises as they cannot take action against politically-appointed  officials. Although the Public Enterprises Board was formed to control political appointment, it has been handcuffed as a case over its jurisdiction is under the consideration of the court for the last one year. Hence, the government has been making political appointments one after another.

Paudyal  urged the PAC to seek written commitments from top brass of the parties with regard to

boost the confidence of the bureaucratic leadership. He said the

government has taken initiatives to control irregularities by making it as one of the performance indicators of office chiefs.

Paudyal  said the biggest problem lies in project selection, which takes place haphazardly based on political influence. It is one of the main factors contributing to rising irregularities at government agencies, he said. “The bureaucracy does not dare to challenge such selections as they fear vengeance from the political class and its possible impact on their career,” said the chief secretary.

Paudyal  said parties appoint civil servants as representatives in their general conventions although the Civil Service Act prohibits civil servants from taking membership of any political party.

Speaking on the occasion, Finance Secretary Suman Sharma said project selection without preparations was main reason for rising irregularities. He also pointed out the lack of adequate skilled manpower to monitor and supervise the ever rising number of projects and rise in the budget size. “A single engineer is forced to monitor up to 40 projects.”

Secretary at the Ministry of Urban Development Arjun Kumar Karki said the tendency among contractors to quote very low price has invited a big problem in completing development projects as the contractors abandon work mid-way on various pretexts. “It is also very difficult to take action against the contractors and consultants as government agencies have to go to the international arbitration to settle such issues,” he said. Auditor General Bhanu Prasad Achayra complained government officials have not been serious in discouraging irregularities. “Even the PAC order has not been implemented,” he said.

PAC chief Janardan Sharma said they were going to issue a time-bound action plan for ministries to prevent and reduce irregularities.

Source: The Kathmandu Post