National
PMO to revise laws to officially take over three watchdogs
Three investigation departments will soon officially come under the aegis of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The PMO on Friday said it is drafting amendments to revise the concerned laws.Three investigation departments will soon officially come under the aegis of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The PMO on Friday said it is drafting amendments to revise the concerned laws.
The Department of Money Laundering Investigation, Department of Revenue Investigation and National Investigation Department, among others, will come under the PMO once they ratify the amendments.
Currently, the Finance Ministry oversees the first two departments and Home Ministry manages the third.
On February 23, the government brought these agencies under PMO by amending the Nepal Government Business Rules. However, they are yet to come under the PMO practically as the law stipulates the two ministries, mentioned above, as the governing authorities. Therefore, these watchdog agencies currently report to the PMO as well as the respective ministry.
PMO Secretary Kedar Bahadur Adhikari said, “We are drafting amendments to the laws and plan to forward it to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs within a week.”
The government aims to amend the related laws through the Nepal Act Amendment Process. Minor revisions would bring these agencies under the PMO.
The Law Ministry has initiated the process of Nepal Act Amendment Process and has sought proposals to amend laws of various ministries to make them compatible with the country’s federal set up.
Officials said the PMO took over these agencies that deal with national security, financial and economic crimes to strengthen them. Clause 2 of the new business rules says, “The PMO generally directs, controls and conducts Nepal’s governance system”. This clause is a new addition. In the past, the PMO only received updates and monitored the issues.
Officials of these agencies brought under the PMO said that they are running the office as usual. The Department of Money Laundering Investigation (DoMLI) Information Officer Binod Lamichhane said, “Our fundamental tasks have not changed. Our office operating under the PMO has not made any difference to our regular tasks.”
The PMO is mulling over assigning one secretary each to the DoMLI and Department of Revenue Investigation since they are important departments.
PMO officials said these departments came under the PMO to avoid conflict of interest and for better coordination across the government agencies.
The NID too came under the PMO after realizing that the prime minister did not receive national security updates in real time.