The Streamlining Revolution - Part 2: Unwavering in the Face of Challenges
Organizational reform is a never-ending revolution, requiring a flexible and decisive approach. With a "running and queuing at the same time" spirit, the process of reorganizing the administrative apparatus from the central to local levels is being implemented synchronously, vigorously, and without delay.
News and Politics Reporting TeamMarch 18, 2025
Organizational reform is a never-ending revolution, requiring a flexible and decisive approach. With a "running and queuing" spirit, the process of reorganizing the administrative apparatus from the central to local levels is being implemented synchronously, vigorously, and without delay. The initial results in Nghe An demonstrate high determination, rapid implementation, and clear outcomes, creating a solid foundation for the next stage of the reform.
Over the past period, the Politburo and the Secretariat have issued strong directives and conclusions with specific requirements and timelines, demanding high determination and urgent progress. Nghe An is one of the pioneering localities, having completed the reorganization of the Party and government apparatus at the provincial and district levels within 3 months (from December 2024 to March 2025), according to the principle: One agency performs multiple tasks, and one task is only led by one agency; Units with overlapping functions and tasks are merged; and the functions and tasks of units are reviewed and refined to ensure more efficient operation.
In a short period of time, Nghe An has accomplished very specific tasks:
Party Agencies: The Propaganda Department was merged with the Mass Mobilization Department to form a Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department at both the provincial and district levels. Simultaneously, the Party Committees of the Provincial Agencies Bloc and the Provincial Enterprises Bloc, along with 8 party groups and 3 party committees, were dissolved. Nghe An also pioneered the establishment of the Provincial Party Agencies Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee Party Committee, enhancing interconnectedness in leadership.
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Government sector: Merged 13 departments and agencies into 7 new departments; reduced 1 public service unit under the Provincial People's Committee and 22 internal units. At the district level, reduced 49 specialized departments and 48 public service units.
The Nghe An Provincial Police Department is leading the way in streamlining its organizational structure by implementing a two-tiered police system (provincial and commune levels), eliminating the district level.Some functions and responsibilities have also been transferred from other departments and agencies to the Provincial Police.To ensure effective state management of security and public order.
Major General Bui Quang Thanh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Nghe An Provincial Police Department, affirmed: This is a particularly important political task, a directive from the Central Party Committee of Public Security and the leadership of the Ministry of Public Security. We have focused intensely and implemented decisively to ensure the new system operates smoothly from March 1, 2025. Evaluating the results, the inspection team...The Ministry of Public Security assessed that Nghe An province has successfully implemented the plan for reorganizing its administrative apparatus.Contributing to improved operational efficiency and ensuring security and order to serve socio-economic development.
Looking back at the initial stages of the administrative streamlining revolution, Nghe An has demonstrated strong determination in completing the organizational restructuring in accordance with the Central Committee's guidelines. Comrade Le Duc Cuong - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee,The Head of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department affirmedThe province has closely followed the conclusions of the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat, summarizing Resolution 18 and implementing the reorganization of the administrative apparatus in accordance with the schedule and roadmap.
Not stopping there, the Central Committee continued to set higher demands with two important conclusions:Conclusion No. 126-KL/TWFebruary 14, 2025 andConclusion No. 127-KL/TWFebruary 28, 2025. Notably, Conclusion 127 outlined a specific roadmap, including groundbreaking measures such as: merging some provincial-level administrative units, eliminating district-level organizations, continuing the merger of commune-level units, and streamlining the apparatus of the Fatherland Front, political and social organizations, and mass associations.
Faced with this urgent need, Nghe An quickly took action. In early March 2025, the Provincial Party Standing Committee organized a conference to disseminate information both in person and online, connecting from the provincial level to 143 district-level locations and 375 commune-level locations, attracting 13,527 delegates. The conference not only unified understanding throughout the entire political system but also...to create a high level of consensus among officials, Party members, and the people., with the aim of implementing the Party's major policies in a coordinated and effective manner.
At this important conference, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Duc Trung emphasized: “The reorganization of the apparatus is only the first step, not yet complete. We must continue to review and consolidate the internal structure, in accordance with the spirit of 'lean, efficient, strong, effective, and efficient'." The Provincial Party Secretary also affirmed: “In the coming time, we need to focus intensely and proactively engage with a ready mindset. Party committees, party organizations, sectors, and localities mustImplement tasks decisively and continue to improve the organizational structure after the merger., ensuring the system is not only streamlined but also powerful."
The revolution to streamline the administrative apparatus has passed its initial phase. Now, the real challenge lies in decisive and coordinated action to ensure that the restructured apparatus is not only more streamlined but also more efficient, as expected by the Party, the State, and the people!
During the process of restructuring and streamlining the administrative apparatus, problems are inevitable. The important thing is not only to identify them promptly, but also to have flexible solutions to ensure that the reform process is not interrupted.
In Nghe An province, organizing the Party congresses at all levels for the 2025-2030 term is one of the important tasks, scheduled to take place from the first to the third quarter of 2025. However, on February 28, 2025, the Politburo issued Conclusion 127-KL/TW, requesting a temporary suspension of Party congresses at the commune and district levels pending specific guidance from the Central Committee.
In light of this situation, the Party Committee of Chau Nhan commune, Hung Nguyen district – the unit selected to hold the pilot congress in March 2025 – proactively suspended the plan immediately upon receiving the information. Comrade Tran Cong Hoan, Secretary of the Chau Nhan Commune Party Committee, affirmed: "The temporary suspension of the congress does not mean delaying Party building work, but aims to ensure that the congress is conducted systematically, effectively, and in accordance with the organizational structure and scale of the administrative unit that will be reorganized in the future."
Proactive and unified action is not only demonstrated at the commune level but is also implemented synchronously throughout the province. On March 4, 2025, the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee issued a document requiring all localities to take action.Temporarily suspend the organization of Party congresses at the commune and district levels.This includes equivalent party organizations, awaiting further instructions from the Central Committee. This is a decision with significant practical implications, demonstrating flexibility in leadership and guidance, aimed at ensuring the long-term stability and effectiveness of the political apparatus.
However, the pause does not mean a halt to preparation. In the spirit of "running while queuing," the Party Committee of the Provincial Party Agencies has requested that party organizations continue to study and provide feedback on the draft documents for the 14th National Congress of the Party, finalize their own congress documents, and be ready to implement them immediately upon receiving new directives.
Besides the organization of the Party Congress, another issue that has received significant public attention is the investment in the construction of administrative headquarters. Previously, according to the development orientation of Nghe An province, some districts such as Con Cuong and Do Luong were planned to become urban centers; therefore, many projects to build administrative headquarters were approved and prepared for implementation.
However, immediately after the Politburo issued Conclusion 126-KL/TW on February 12, 2025, which included a study on abolishing the intermediate administrative level - the district level, localities promptly adjusted their plans.Con Cuong District has decided to temporarily suspendThe new administrative center project, worth 110 billion VND, was halted, and investment in a number of other projects was also reviewed and stopped, including the Chau Khe commune headquarters, the district military command headquarters, the agricultural service center, and four commune-level health stations.
Do Luong District also took similar action, temporarily suspending the new administrative headquarters project worth 80 billion VND and the district conference center project worth 45 billion VND, even though these projects had completed all procedures and were preparing for construction, pending further instructions.
To avoid scattered investments and budget waste, the People's Committee of Nghe An province promptly issued a directive on March 3, 2025, requiring all agencies, units, and localities subject to restructuring to temporarily suspend the renovation and repair of office buildings, and the purchase of assets and equipment, except in cases of genuine necessity. At the same time, the province also temporarily suspended the advance payment of capital for basic construction projects using state budget funds.
This decision not only helps save resources but also ensures that public investment is implemented scientifically and in accordance with the new organizational structure after the restructuring.
Following Directive 126-KL/TW dated February 12, 2025, the Politburo further issued Conclusion 128-KL/TW on March 7, 2025, which requires a temporary suspension of recruitment, appointment, and planning of leadership and management personnel during the organizational restructuring period. This is a necessary step to minimize mass appointments before mergers and ensure stability within the organization.
In implementing this policy, on March 10, 2025, the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee issued a document requiring all Party committees, organizations, and agencies to temporarily suspend recruitment, planning, rotation, and appointment of cadres. This not only helps to more tightly control personnel but also creates conditions for the new apparatus after reorganization to operate more effectively, avoiding redundancies or overlapping tasks.
During the process of reorganizing the administrative apparatus, challenges are inevitable, but with strong political determination, consensus among leaders at all levels, officials, and civil servants, and close supervision from the people, all problems can be overcome.
The "wait and see" approach is not only a flexible method but also a crucial key to ensuring that the streamlining of the administrative apparatus does not go off track. Reorganizing the administrative apparatus is a long journey, requiring perseverance, decisiveness, and unity of action.
(To be continued)
