KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) employees have not received their salaries for the past three months due to the absence of a Chief Administrative Officer, leading to a complete halt in financial transactions.
Mayor Balen Shah took to social media on Monday evening, expressing frustration over the government’s inaction. He blamed the government’s arrogance for the delay and issued a stern warning, stating that if salaries were not disbursed within a week, he would take drastic action.
The Chief Administrative Officer position has remained vacant since December 20, following the recommendation for action against Saroj Guragain over allegations of tampering with the map of Kathmandu Tower at the old bus park.
Without a replacement, the metropolis has been unable to process financial transactions, directly affecting employee salaries.
KMC spokesperson Nabin Manandhar confirmed that the absence of the Chief Administrative Officer has significantly disrupted financial operations.
“Without the Chief Administrative Officer, no work has been done,” he said, adding that there is a clear problem in financial management.
The role of the Chief Administrative Officer is critical in local governance, as outlined in the Local Government Operation Act 2017.
The officer is responsible for budget implementation, financial oversight, municipal records, and procurement decisions. Without someone in this position, key administrative functions, including salary disbursement, have come to a standstill.
The ongoing bureaucratic deadlock has also impacted other local levels, where governance has been stalled due to similar administrative vacancies.
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