Promote ethics, the spirit of daring to do and taking responsibility in performing public duties of cadres and civil servants.

PV:Dear comrade, one of the key contents of the Dialogue Conference between the Standing Committee of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee and department-level managers and experts this time is administrative reform and public ethics of cadres and civil servants. Can you tell us about some outstanding results in this work?

StationMr. Nguyen Viet Hung:In recent times, the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee and all levels and sectors of Nghe An province have led, directed and resolutely implemented many strong and comprehensive measures in all areas such as institutional reform, reorganization and consolidation of the apparatus, reform of the civil service regime, reform of administrative procedures, digital transformation, etc. Thanks to that,administrative reform workNghe An province has achieved positive changes, the administrative reform index (PAR INDEX), the satisfaction assessment index of people and organizations with the service of state administrative agencies (SIPAS) have continuously increased over the years.

Nghe An Provincial PAPI Indexes in 2022. Source: papi.org.vn

In particular, in the first 3 months of 2023, Nghe An continued to be honored to be in the top 10 provinces attracting the highest foreign investment capital in the country with a total investment capital of 164.95 million USD.

To achieve outstanding achievements in administrative reform, in addition to the direction of leaders at all levels of government, promoting the ethics of cadres and civil servants in performing public duties at state administrative agencies is always a top priority. We still say "attitude is more important than qualifications", therefore, the enthusiasm, readiness for work, willingness to listen and share of cadres and civil servants in performing public duties are very important.

Comrade Nguyen Viet Hung - Director of the Department of Home Affairs discussed work with officers of departments and offices. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Understanding that, in recent times, along with the increased application of information technology to facilitate businesses and people in carrying out administrative procedures, many localities, agencies and units have had activities and models to improve the public ethics of officials and civil servants in performing their duties, specifically: "Saturday for the people to serve", "Improving the quality of public service", "Culture of behavior in the workplace", "Self-reflection and self-correction"... Those actions contribute to building people's trust in public agencies.

In addition to the achievements, the administrative reform and ethics of public officials and civil servants in recent times still have some shortcomings and limitations: some mechanisms and policies are not yet synchronized, there is a lack of experts capable of proposing major policies, administrative procedures in many fields are still confusing and complicated, the streamlining of the apparatus in some agencies has not met requirements; the one-stop mechanism in some districts and communes has not actually met requirements, there are still officials and civil servants who are not proficient in their jobs; the application of information technology has not been smooth, ... this affects the processing of online records, making individuals and organizations lack trust in public agencies.

Officials of the Department of Transport handle administrative procedures for people at the Provincial Public Administration Service Center. Photo: Thanh Le

From another perspective, somewhere in some agencies and localities, there is still the phenomenon of "one bad apple spoiling the barrel", some officials and civil servants show signs of harassment, arrogance and abuse of power, taking advantage of their positions and powers for personal gain. As a result, recently, some officials and civil servants in some agencies and units have been prosecuted, prosecuted and temporarily detained.

PV:According to you, what solutions are needed in the coming time to improve public ethics and effectiveness in administrative reform?

Comrade Nguyen Viet Hung:In reality, the process of performing public duties of cadres and civil servants, besides the advantages, also faces some difficulties such as: The pressure between quick and timely resolution, with the high requirement of ensuring no violations, mistakes, no haste, no carelessness. Meanwhile, in practice in some fields, the content and issues still contain many sensitive factors, legal documents, guidance documents are inconsistent, unclear, overlapping, lacking or do not have a truly clear legal corridor.

Comrade Nguyen Viet Hung - Director of the Department of Home Affairs, Head of the Organizing Committee of the online contest "Learning about Administrative Procedure Reform" in Nghe An province in 2023, chaired the meeting to review and deploy the contest. Photo: Thanh Le

Therefore, in the coming time, to overcome limitations, improve the effectiveness of administrative reform and public ethics of cadres and civil servants in general and department-level leaders and managers in particular, in my opinion, first of all, agencies and units must proactively implement documents related to administrative reform as well as promote attitudes and sense of responsibility for public ethics when performing tasks in their agencies and units.

Units need to proactively conduct in-depth inspections of the performance of professional duties of cadres and civil servants, especially those working in "sensitive" positions related to people, businesses and investors. It is necessary to listen to external information and public opinion to promptly have solutions to rectify cadres and civil servants in performing their duties. There must be surprise inspections and periodic inspections within the agency or unit. Along with that, coordinate with inspection teams to reform administration, check discipline and administrative discipline to raise the sense of responsibility of cadres and civil servants in performing public duties. There must be clear forms of rewards and sanctions to raise the sense of responsibility of cadres and civil servants in performing public duties.

In the coming time, we will focus more on advising on promoting administrative reform in the province, focusing on the following key tasks: Promoting the implementation of the administrative reform program of Nghe An province for the period 2021-2030; focusing on simplifying administrative procedures, creating favorable conditions for businesses and people; building e-government, digital government in the operations of state agencies associated with innovating operating methods, creating transparency in state management; continuing to reform the civil service regime, including the management of cadres, civil servants, public employees, salary regime and other regimes and policies.

Provincial Party Committee Organizing Committee officials discuss professional tasks. Photo: Thanh Le

In addition, implement the Project to improve the organizational structure of agencies and units according to Government regulations, ensuring streamlining, effectiveness and efficiency. Strengthen discipline and administrative discipline, promote the responsibility of leaders; improve the sense of responsibility and public ethics of cadres, civil servants and public employees.

Besides, in order for the team of department-level managers and specialists to have the motivation to be creative, innovative and dedicated to the common development goals of the province, the province must first build good policies and regimes for the team of cadres, civil servants and public employees, especially young cadres, civil servants and public employees in agencies and units.

The Provincial Party Committee of the Provincial Agencies Bloc inspected Party work at the Provincial Labor Federation. Photo: Thanh Le

It is necessary to build a regime and policies to create conditions for young cadres, civil servants and public employees to proactively have jobs, to promote their abilities, strengths and see a path for advancement in their work. For example, each unit should boldly have a plan to orient and develop young leaders; have departments, groups and teams of young civil servants assigned appropriate tasks, independently and autonomously, and have a form of competition in professional work so that civil servants can demonstrate and practice their abilities. For those who are truly good and talented, we need to know how to "respect, treat and appreciate", only then can we help them feel respected and they will try to contribute to the development of their province.

PV:Thank you, comrade!