Streamlining the apparatus: What needs to be done immediately

During his lifetime, facing the fate of the country having to reform and innovate to escape poverty and move towards global integration, the late General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh directed 'Things that need to be done immediately'. Today, streamlining the apparatus is something that cannot be delayed.

People do administrative procedures at the Can Tho City Public Administration Service Center - Photo: CHI QUOC

As General Secretary To Lam has emphasized, streamlining the apparatus of the political system of the Party, State and mass organizations is a "revolution" and also contributes to fighting waste. More deeply, this is what needs to be done to help our country enter the era of integration and development. Implementing the policy of arranging, perfecting and streamlining the apparatus at this time is something that cannot be delayed, must be done and done soon.

The streamlining of the political system in our country is not the first time, but reality shows that it has not been as the set goals. Among the reasons are the lack of steadfast and thorough implementation, the lack of truly suitable methods... After many times of streamlining, the apparatus of leadership and management agencies sometimes swells up again, which reduces the meaning and effectiveness of the policy.

This limitation can be clearly seen in the system of Party agencies, the Economic and Internal Affairs departments, after being dissolved, were re-established from the central to local levels. Similarly, there was the "merging, separating", abolishing and then re-establishing of many departments (at the provincial level).

Although the State has to spend a lot of money to encourage and reduce the number of staff, the number of cadres, civil servants and public employees is still increasing. Many people still "go to work with an umbrella in the morning and come home with an umbrella in the afternoon". This is really a burden on the State budget and the people.

The effectiveness of the policy of streamlining the apparatus and civil service payroll is undeniable. Since the Ministry of Forestry, Irrigation, and Fisheries was dissolved and merged into the Ministry of Agriculture, not only have these fields not declined but they have also developed strongly, such as: planted forest area, forest coverage, output and export turnover of forestry and fishery products...

Even though we no longer have a Ministry of Irrigation, our country has still invested in building many unprecedented large-scale irrigation projects with effective irrigation and saltwater prevention... in many places across the country.

The Secretariat's policy of thoroughly grasping and directing the implementation of the arrangement, consolidation and streamlining of the apparatus and the civil service team this time has a great advantage at the beginning of the new year 2025 and especially when all levels and sectors elect new personnel. This is the context and condition for all levels, sectors and units to consolidate, consolidate and reorganize the agency system, innovate in organization and operation to improve the level and quality of party members.

In addition to the above advantages, the policy of reorganizing, perfecting, and streamlining the apparatus and the civil service also faces great difficulties and challenges. One of those difficulties and challenges is the mentality, spirit, attitude, and even inertia of a significant number of "insiders".

Now is the opportunity and chance for our country to enter a new era of "Efficiency - Effectiveness - Efficiency" as General Secretary To Lam has directed. Successfully implementing policies, plans, and goals of streamlining the leadership and management apparatus at all levels and the team of civil servants is also "something that needs to be done immediately"?

Reduce deputies, increase good staff

The Central Government is having a personnel revolution. This is a very difficult task, full of challenges ahead. I would like to make the following suggestions: - Do not streamline by quantity but look at the substance and practical development. The Party committees, fronts, people's councils, associations... are the ones that really make the apparatus bloated. Departments and branches need to increase cadres and specialists with better capacity and productivity than the old level, thereby creating a basis for increasing salaries of good civil servants (one good person has the productivity of 2-3 weak people). - Reduce deputies, we have too many deputies from central agencies to localities. Each central agency, according to the personnel structure and apparatus, should only have 1-2 deputies, and the affiliated departments also follow that rule. Promote decentralization and delegation of power to deputies and department heads with the right to make decisions in work (in line with the policy that cadres dare to think, dare to do, and act for the common interests of the people and the country).

Streamlining association staff

It is necessary to boldly streamline the personnel of associations in the spirit of the association. Except for associations such as the Vietnam Farmers' Association, the Vietnam Women's Union, the Vietnam Veterans' Association, etc., when established, associations must ensure financial autonomy, with the state budget only supporting the assigned tasks. The model of the current associations includes association leaders (president and vice presidents), specialized departments and support departments. For example, the Cooperative Union often sets a target of 10-11 personnel. Usually, the provincial cooperative union has three leadership positions (president and two vice presidents), two specialists who synthesize planning reports and provide legal support to members. The remaining 5-6 personnel do support work such as personnel, clerks, accountants, treasurers, emulation and rewards, and drivers. In reality, the work of the association is not as much as that of specialized departments, but they have a full apparatus as mentioned above. The department has an accountant, the association has an accountant. The department has a secretary, the association also has a secretary. So why not combine those associations into one organization? In the newly established organization, in addition to reducing the number of deputies, it is also possible to streamline staff such as secretaries, accountants, treasurers, emulation and reward officers, and drivers. By doing so, the budget will save each association at least 6 or 7 employees to pay salaries. Such an organization is expected to be much more streamlined and effective.

Do you have any ideas or suggestions for streamlining the apparatus from central to local levels? Please send your comments to Tuoi Tre via email ntu@tuoitre.com.vn. The editorial office will select and publish your suggestions for readers and authorities to refer to.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tinh-gon-bo-may-viec-can-lam-ngay-20241203222552297.htm