Review of local governance organization legislation for enhanced effectiveness.

GUTS AND GLOW:

Here's the lowdown on the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee's latest discussion about a game-changing amendment to the Law on Organisation of Local Government.

Ha Noi - This week, the NA Standing Committee reviewed a draft aiming to streamline local governance and improve its efficiency by modifying the existing three-tier system to a two-tier one. The goal? To make operations smoother from the central to the grassroots levels, responding effectively to the needs of each locality.

Minister of Home Affairs Phạm Thị Thanh Trà, weighed in during the meeting, stating that the proposed changes will help tackle overlapping functions and responsibilities between local governments, and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy.

The draft abolishes district-level authorities, leaving only province- and ward-level administrations to make decisions and enforce policies. This is a move towards greater decentralization between central and local state agencies, and between provincial and grassroots governments, providing more autonomy and resource mobilization opportunities for the latter.

However, during the discussion, the NA's Legal and Judicial Committee recommended that the Government provide more clarity on authority delegation and the election of local officials. The Committee also urged the review of transitional provisions and related regulations to ensure a hassle-free transition and maintain the normal operations of businesses, the public, and their interests.

The proposed model, set to take effect from July 1, 2025, features a provincial-level tier acting as both policy implementer and local policy issuer, directly overseeing communes. The commune level, on the other hand, focuses on enacting policies from higher levels with greater autonomy to address grassroots issues and create localized legal frameworks.

In essence, this change aims to eliminate bureaucratic delays, reduce jurisdictional conflicts, and promote a more efficient decision-making process by eliminating redundant layers and providing clearer authority delegation. It also aligns with Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW's goal of reducing commune-level units by 60-70% for optimization.

Flush the gripes, ‘cause the show ain't over yet. The ninth session of the NA is scheduled to take place from May 5 to June 30. So buckle up, ye faithful citizens, as we sail towards a more streamlined administration. Stay tuned for more deets!

Minister of Home Affairs Phạm Thị Thanh Trà speaks at a National Assembly Standing Committee meeting on Monday. - VNA/VNS Photo

Sources:1. https://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/governance/2. https://asean.org/storage/2021/03/31/Update-1-Vietnam-to-merge-communal-people-s-committee-and-people-s-council/3. https://www.vietnamlawmagazine.vn/communal-administrative-unit-restructuring-towards-optimization-of-administrative-efficiency/4. https://ahrc.asia/news/vietnam-to-reduce-number-of-communes-by-70-under-new-local-government-model/5. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/vietnam-plans-to-reduce-grassroots-units-gear-up-administrative-reform-030221

The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee is discussing an amendment to the Law on Organisation of Local Government that aims to streamline local governance and improve efficiency.
The proposed changes include modifying the existing three-tier system to a two-tier one, with the goal of making operations smoother from central to grassroots levels.
Minister of Home Affairs Phạm Thị Thanh Trà has weighed in, stating that the proposed changes will help tackle overlapping functions and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy.
The draft abolishes district-level authorities, leaving only provincial- and ward-level administrations to make decisions and enforce policies, promoting greater decentralization.
However, the NA's Legal and Judicial Committee has recommended that the Government provide more clarity on authority delegation and the election of local officials.
The proposed model, set to take effect from July 1, 2025, features a provincial-level tier acting as both policy implementer and local policy issuer, directly overseeing communes, while the commune level will focus on enacting policies with greater autonomy to address grassroots issues.