National
Draft bill expands chief secretary post eligibility
Special class civil staff working in provincial and local governments would be eligible to become Chief Secretary of the federal government, if Parliament endorses the proposed bill on the Federal Civil Service.Special class civil staff working in provincial and local governments would be eligible to become Chief Secretary of the federal government, if Parliament endorses the proposed bill on the Federal Civil Service.
According to the draft bill submitted to the Cabinet last week by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA), Class One officers, deputed to provincial and local level, would be eligible to contest for secretary’s post in the federal government.
Currently, Nepal government secretaries are working as chief secretary in the provinces and some Metropolitan Cities have government’s secretary as chief administrative officer.
The government proposes the new Act on Civil Service because deploying civil servants to three-tier governments is a major challenge. A large numbers of civil servants are reluctant to move to provincial and local governments.
Officials say the draft bill encourages civil staff to work in provincial and local governments. If civil servants find career growth prospects while working under provincial and local governments on par with federal government, they would be motivated to take up positions in local governments.
The draft bill has also gives priority to seniority for promotions. A civil servant not in ‘Negative List’ would be eligible for promotion based on seniority.
Definition of Negative List is staff failing to secure minimum points for performance, service period and educational qualification.
Currently, Promotion Committee headed by Public Service Commission Chairman or member recommends the names of civil servants based on seniority and performance for promotions.
MoFAGA Spokesperson Suresh Adhikari said, “We proposed a single criterion of promotion considering performance evaluation is not scientific enough.”
Another reason, according to him, is the possible impact on the senior civil servants when a junior supersedes him or her.
“We also followed the tradition of Indian Civil Services and other countries to keep single criterion for promotion,” said Adhikari.
According to the draft bill, first class gazetted officer (joint secretary), who has served the longest period in that position, would be promoted to post of Secretary for 20 percent of the vacant seats.
For the rest of 80 percent vacant seats, civil servants not in the negative list would be recommended for promotion. The government will then promote them based on seniority and their performance as per the proposed provision.
As per the current law, a gazetted first class officer, who has served the longest period in that post and has secured at least 95 percent mark in performance evaluation, would be promoted to the post of secretary for 20 percent of the vacant seats.
For the remaining 80 percent, high scores in performance evaluation would get the chance to compete.