Rectify the situation of delays and forgetfulness in the performance of official duties.
(Baonghean) - In reality, annual inspections and audits of the performance of duties and responsibilities of officials and civil servants reveal that many officials and civil servants have not fulfilled their responsibilities in carrying out their official duties. They are slow in resolving assigned tasks, and there are instances of avoiding or forgetting work, violating the Law on Officials and Civil Servants...
The rate of delayed task completion remains high.
Along with inspecting the implementation of administrative discipline and order at all levels and sectors, the Provincial Inspectorate annually coordinates with relevant sectors to conduct responsibility inspections combined with public service inspections in accordance with the Law on Cadres and Civil Servants. Through these inspections, shortcomings and limitations in the performance of professional duties by cadres and civil servants in departments and offices across various sectors and localities are identified.
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| Inspecting compliance with administrative discipline and regulations in Con Cuong district. Photo: Thanh Le |
For example, following an inspection in Do Luong district, the Provincial Inspectorate issued Decision No. 18/KL.TTR dated June 18, 2018, clearly stating: Regarding the performance of professional duties for specific tasks with stipulated completion deadlines: In 2016 and 2017, the People's Committee of Do Luong district received and processed 99,110 dossiers; of which 11 out of 486 dossiers were processed late compared to the regulations, accounting for 11.59%. Regarding the performance of unscheduled tasks (receiving and processing work assignment documents from the Provincial People's Committee and provincial departments and agencies), 65 work assignment documents were processed late or not processed within the stipulated time, accounting for 4.45%.
In Cua Lo town, an inspection revealed that 86 documents from the Provincial People's Committee and provincial departments and agencies were delayed or not implemented within the stipulated deadline, accounting for 3.91%. Regarding the implementation of specific professional tasks with stipulated completion deadlines, 380 files were delayed, representing 2.37%.
According to the inspection team's assessment, the departments and units under the People's Committee of the town generally processed dossiers within the prescribed time. However, some departments still experienced delays in handling tasks (Land Use Rights Registration Office: 320 dossiers, accounting for 3.21%; Department of Natural Resources and Environment: 37 dossiers, accounting for 3.21%; Department of Urban Management: 10 dossiers, accounting for 0.7%). Furthermore, at the time of inspection, some ISO procedures and processes applied by the People's Committee of Cua Lo town in its specialized departments were found to be ineffective due to incorrect implementation of current decrees and circulars, which the departments had not promptly amended or replaced. For example, the administrative procedures in the field of Natural Resources and Environment, published on the Cua Lo town's electronic portal, were applying the 2013 Land Law and Decree 181/ND-CP dated October 29, 2004, which are no longer in effect. The procedure for "considering lunch support for 3, 4, and 5-year-old children" at the Department of Education and Training stipulated a processing time of 10 working days. However, in reality, the department does not apply the ISO process for handling applications, but instead receives, evaluates, and processes them twice a year according to Joint Circular 09/2013 of the Ministry of Education and Training - Ministry of Finance - Ministry of Home Affairs guiding the lunch regime for preschool children...
In 2017, through inspections of public service performance combined with inspections of law compliance, the Inspection sector discovered violations in 59 units; recommended disciplinary action and lessons learned for 60 organizations and 302 individuals who violated regulations in the performance of their duties (the main violations being delays in completing assigned tasks), and recommended administrative sanctions for 9 organizations and 6 individuals who committed violations.
The slow processing of work for individuals and organizations is not only occurring at the local level but also at the departmental level. In the first quarter of 2018, the results of resolving inter-agency administrative procedures in the investment sector showed 143 delayed applications, mainly those related to investment policy approval procedures (117 applications); and procedures for appraisal and approval of detailed construction planning at a scale of 1/500 (16 applications)... This slow processing of work not only affects the effectiveness of state management in various fields but also causes difficulties and frustration for citizens, businesses, and organizations.
It is necessary to rectify and address these issues promptly.
According to the provincial Inspectorate's leadership, every year during inspection work, the Inspectorate requires local authorities to conduct reviews, clarify responsibilities, determine the extent of violations, and take appropriate disciplinary action against each collective and individual for performing assigned tasks and complying with legal regulations for both regular and unexpected duties. However, in reality, delays and omissions remain common.
Besides objective reasons, subjective factors include the low sense of responsibility and work ethic among some officials and employees in agencies and units; a lack of impartiality and dedication; inappropriate communication and conduct in handling matters for citizens and organizations, and even violations of public service ethics. Some agencies and units lack inspection and supervision in strengthening administrative discipline and order, focusing only on adherence to schedules rather than improving the quality and efficiency of work and the responsibility of officials and employees in performing their duties. The handling of violations is sometimes not decisive enough, mainly stopping at reminders and criticisms.
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| An inter-agency team inspects administrative discipline and order at the One-Stop Service Center of Dien Chau District People's Committee. Photo: Thanh Le |
Furthermore, according to Mr. Bui Dinh Sang, Chief Inspector of the Department of Internal Affairs: Public service inspections only check the performance of assigned tasks by officials and civil servants through administrative procedures to see if the process and processing time from receipt to delivery of results are within the prescribed time, but they do not yet deeply assess the quality of work of officials and civil servants.
Clause 1 and Clause 3 of Article 9 of the 2008 Law on Cadres and Civil Servants clearly state: “The obligations of cadres and civil servants in performing their duties are to ‘perform correctly, fully, and be responsible for the results of performing assigned tasks and powers,’ and to ‘be proactive and closely coordinate in performing their duties…’.” Therefore, to promptly rectify and overcome the above situation, in addition to strengthening inspection, review, and supervision of the performance of duties and tasks by cadres, civil servants, and public employees, the heads of agencies and units need to strengthen administrative discipline; clearly assign tasks to specific individuals; and use the progress and results of task performance as a “measure” for evaluating cadres and civil servants. Furthermore, strict action should be taken against departments, divisions, and public employees who allow prolonged or repeated delays or omissions that affect the effectiveness of state management and the rights of organizations and individuals.
