KATHMANDU: The Prime Minister’s Office has initiated steps to abolish two key bodies under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology: the Advertisement Board and the Minimum Wage Determination Committee.
The move, recommended by the government’s Task Force on Governance Reforms and Good Governance, has raised questions about the relevance and effectiveness of these bodies.
The restructuring process is based on recommendations from a good governance report prepared during the previous government, as well as the current administration’s action plan.
According to the report, the work currently carried out by the Advertisement Board could be efficiently managed through an electronic system in coordination with the Department of Information and Broadcasting and Press Council Nepal. The report also notes that office bearers on the board are often selected based on political appointments.
“I have heard this issue has been raised in the Good Governance Committee. Preparations may now be underway to implement it,” said Uday Bahadur Rana Magar, spokesperson for the Ministry of Communications.
“Matters discussed in the Good Governance Committee and the Prime Minister’s Office have not yet reached the ministry. Once they do, we will move toward implementation.”
The Good Governance Committee has also recommended dissolving the Minimum Wage Determination Committee, which monitors and advises on journalists’ salaries and service facilities. It suggests that the committee’s administrative and technical work be transferred to the Department of Information and Broadcasting.
Currently, Laxman Humagain serves as chairman of the Advertisement Board, while Sangita Khadka is chairperson of the Minimum Wage Determination Committee.
Comment