KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 26

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority offered a number of suggestions to the government for making progress in the fight against corruption in the country.

In a 16-point suggestion mentioned in the CIAA’s annual report (2019-20) released on Thursday, the government has been urged to stipulate a legal provision that allows the anti-graft body to conduct independent probe into graft sensitive offices of the private sector and non-governmental organisations.

Till date, the CIAA has a mandate of conducting investigation into corruption in public offices only.

Another suggestion the report offered was to automatically increase the salary of civil servants at all levels on par with inflation to prevent bribery due to their tendency to deny service to service-seekers without bribe. The CIAA added public office holders needed facilities such as accommodation, education and health to ensure they shun bribe and embezzlement.

“Public entities are usually found to be submitting proposals to the Council of Ministers for decision on procurement involving the vested interest of employees and office-bearers.

Therefore, it is important to formulate and implement a procedure related to policy decision of procurement by clearly delineating its scope,” the report says.

The CIAA also underscored the need to reform the legal provision of disclosing property details of public office holders via a designated software in a time-bound and systematic manner. “The government is requested to include improper acts of a public office holder in the definition of corruption mentioned in the Prevention of Corruption Act-2002 to pave the way for bringing to book such a person. Improper act and corruption are inseparable as an improper act leads to corruption,” the report reads.

“It is necessary to incorporate the subjects of good governance and anti-corruption in school and university curriculum. If these subjects are included in the curriculum, the country can produce capable and honest human resources in the future. It will also help instil a sense of integrity and accountability among citizens,” it adds. CIAA also suggested the government to formulate and implement a National Integrity Policy to develop the system of integrity, ethics, good conduct and decorum in the country.

“The government should make a provision of e-software programming and e-attendance and mobile apps, and installation of CCTV cameras in offices of local levels, land revenue office and transport management office, among others, which sees flow of many service-seekers every day. The presence of intermediaries needs to end by attaching priority to e-governance and making provision of tax and revenue payment online,” it said.