KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal faces a rising wave of retirements among senior bureaucrats this fiscal year. Fourteen high-ranking civil servants, at the Secretary level, are expected to retire during the fiscal year 2024-2025, with two already stepping down since the fiscal year began.
Prominent among the retirees is Leela Devi Gadtaula, who served as Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers before being promoted to Chief Secretary. Gadtaula retired after reaching the mandatory age limit.
Toya Narayan Gyawali, another senior Secretary, left his post at the National Planning Commission Secretariat on September 4. Gadtaula had retired a week earlier, on August 31. Additionally, Toyanath Adhikari, Secretary of the Nepal Law Commission, resigned ahead of his scheduled retirement date.
To address the vacancy, Ek Narayan Aryal, a senior Secretary slated to retire in February 2025, has been appointed Chief Secretary, with his tenure extended by three years.
This year, 83 joint secretaries, 177 under secretaries, and 253 section officers are also due to retire, with many already having left service. Lower levels of the bureaucracy are experiencing similar changes, with employees retiring across various ranks.
In total, 188 gazetted first-category officers are set to retire by the year’s end, a striking number that reflects an aging government workforce. This influx in retirement is expected to place significant pressure on the nation’s pension system, which must absorb the growing costs associated with a rapidly retiring workforce.
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