Government prepares to fill post of CAOs in local levels
Published: 10:30 am Sep 17, 2023
KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 16
The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has invited applications from second and third class gazetted officers of Nepal Administration Service and General Administration groups for posting as chief administrative officers of various local levels.
'The post of CAOs is still vacant in 122 out of 753 local levels across the country,' said an official at the MoFAGA. These local levels are running under the administrative leadership of acting CAOs.
Of them, two-thirds of sub-metropolitan municipalities are without CAOs.
Out of 11 sub-metropolitan cities, only Dharan, Hetauda, Tulsipur and Dhangadi have CAOs. However, all six metropolitan cities have got CAOs.
Out of 276 municipalities, 31 are being run by acting CAOs. Similarly, 84 out of 460 rural municipalities lack CAOs. Sudurpaschim Province has the highest number of CAOs (34) followed by Karnali Province (33), Koshi Province (19), Bagmati Province (13), Lumbini Province (10) and Gandaki Province (6). In the case of Madhes Province, all the local levels have got their CAOs. Government officials do not like to work in remote areas, leading to difficulty in filling the post.
As the CAO is the administrative chief of the local levels, many local governments have been experiencing problems with work related to budget mobilisation and payment.
Likewise, the CAOs act as secretary of the village/municipal assembly and executive body. Their functions and duties are to enforce the decision of the assembly and executive body, formulate annual programme and budget as per the direction of the chair or mayor, maintain records of the fund and financial transactions, carry out audit, clear arrears, protect movable and immovable property of the rural municipality or municipality, and maintain administrative and financial control of the rural municipality.
They are also responsible for preparing a public procurement plan and carrying out procurement-related works.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 17, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.