Local Governments Nationwide Receive Chief Administrative Officers

March 20, Kathmandu – Following the formation of the new government, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has accelerated the appointment of Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) across local governments nationwide. A total of 145 vacant CAO positions have been filled in sub-metropolitan cities, municipalities, and rural municipalities. Some of these appointments also include coordinators of District Coordination Committees.

Previously, key positions in District Coordination Committees in districts like Chitwan, Arghakhanchi, Ilam, Jajarkot, Salyan, Rolpa, Udayapur, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Rautahat, and Nawalparasi had been vacant. The ministry has now appointed District Coordination Officers to these posts.

According to Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration Pratibha Rawal, when she assumed office, 142 local levels had vacant CAO posts. Currently, a total of 753 local bodies have their Chief Administrative Officer positions filled.

On March 16, 63 District Coordination Officers and municipal Chief Administrative Officers, including Undersecretaries, were appointed. Undersecretaries have been deployed particularly in sub-metropolitan cities such as Tulsipur, Ghorahi, Butwal, and Janakpur. The appointments include Tek Narayan Paudel for Tulsipur, Chandraprasad Bhusal for Ghorahi, Deepak Gyawali for Butwal, and Gyan Hari Ghimire for Janakpur.

In the next phase, on March 19 (Thursday), Chief Administrative Officers were assigned to 78 rural municipalities, mostly filled by officers at the administrative level.

Main Reasons for Vacant Posts

The ministry has pinpointed three principal causes for vacancies in the Chief Administrative Officer positions: reluctance among employees to accept the roles, elected representatives seeking administration officers favorable to themselves, and delays in the transfer process by interim governments.

The ministry reports that in many local governments, vacancies have persisted for months due to these factors, including some cases where officers sent to municipalities were refused acceptance by representatives and sent back.

Following the new government’s formation, Minister Rawal implemented strict policies against employees refusing postings, issuing warnings that such officers would have to vacate their current positions.

The minister also stated that those officers who had been in the ministry for over two years without working in local bodies have now been appointed as Chief Administrative Officers and posted accordingly.

Significant Vacancies in the Madhesh Region

Vacant Chief Administrative Officer positions were notably prevalent in local governments in the Madhesh, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim regions. This lack has impacted administrative operations at district headquarters.

For instance, in Rautahat district, which has 18 local bodies, seven municipalities and one rural municipality lacked Chief Administrative Officers. Municipalities such as Matihani, Madhav Narayan, Chandrapur, Rajpur, Paroha, Gaur, Gujara, and Vijaypur, as well as Yamunamai rural municipality, had these vacancies.

Nita Pokharel Aryal, Undersecretary and spokesperson for the Ministry of Federal Affairs, explained that part of the delay in appointments was due to an insufficient number of Undersecretaries and officers for allocated posts. Additionally, the priority given to election processes also contributed to appointment delays in certain areas.

Lack of Chief Administrative Officers in some local bodies in the past led to issues such as employees being unable to receive salaries, social security benefits being halted, and disruptions in development projects.

Selection Based on Merit

Minister Rawal emphasized that since taking charge, the ministry has prioritized the appointment of Chief Administrative Officers.

“We have made decisions for administrative officer postings strictly based on merit,” she said. “Transfer decisions will no longer be influenced by connections but solely by merit.”

She also expressed hope that the old practice of elected representatives obstructing officers who do not favor them would not be repeated this time.

“If officers demonstrate professionalism, local leaders also bear the responsibility to cooperate. It is unlikely that elected representatives will obstruct the work of Chief Administrative Officers,” Minister Rawal added.