When officials and Party members violate Directive 17

(Baonghean) - The violations of Directive 17-CT/TU of the Provincial Party Committee (referred to as Directive 17) are primarily due to the limited awareness and responsibility of some officials and civil servants. More importantly, however, the leadership, supervision, inspection, detection, and handling by the heads of units and localities have not been strict, timely, or effective, and still suffer from favoritism and formalism.

Numerous violations

Directive 17 of the Provincial Party Committee on "Strengthening administrative discipline and order in agencies and units in the province" was issued in December 2013 with the goal of making a significant contribution to raising the awareness and responsibility of cadres and Party members. Through this, it aims to build a professional, responsible, dynamic, transparent, and efficient public service.

Two officials from Nam Hung commune (Nam Dan district) were caught playing games during working hours on July 29, 2015, by the provincial inspection and supervision team. (Photo: Tran Hai).

After more than two years of implementation, Directive 17 has created a new impetus in public administration at all levels and sectors. The awareness and responsibility of the majority of officials and civil servants have clearly changed and spread widely, gaining the approval and support of the people. Inspections have shown that most officials and civil servants adhere well to working hours; the phenomenon of drinking alcohol before and during working hours has significantly decreased, and no officials or civil servants have been found to have violated the code of conduct or professional ethics and been subjected to disciplinary action.

Besides the positive aspects, the inspection team discovered many officials, Party members, and civil servants violating work regulations and public service ethics. For example, in Nam Thai, Nam Hung, and Kim Lien communes (Nam Dan district), at the time of the inspection on July 29, 2015, many officials and civil servants were absent without reason, and the leaders were unaware. In particular, two officials and civil servants of the Nam Hung Commune People's Committee, Mr. Nguyen Phuc Phuoc – Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Council and Mr. Nguyen Duy Hung – Head of the Police, were playing games during working hours. Similarly, at the Tan Ky Town People's Committee, when the inspection team arrived, Mr. Thai Dinh Long, a civil servant in the Office of Statistics, lacked responsibility and cooperation with the inspection team.

Following the inspection team's notification, the People's Committee of Nam Dan District directed the communes with violating officials to hold review meetings. Based on this, the People's Committee of Nam Dan District disciplined Mr. Nguyen Phuc Phuoc, Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Nam Hung Commune, and Mr. Nguyen Duy Hung, Head of the Police of Nam Hung Commune, with a warning for violating Directive 17 and Directive 10 on administrative discipline and order. Regarding Tan Ky District, the People's Committee directed the People's Committee of Tan Ky Town to conduct a review of the People's Committee and the relevant officials.

Based on the report from the People's Committee of Tan Ky town, the People's Committee of Tan Ky district decided to issue a reprimand to Mr. Phan Xuan Thuy - Chairman of the People's Committee of Tan Ky town and Mr. Thai Binh Long - Office and Statistics officer.

Officials in Xuan Tuong commune casually smoke during working hours. (Photo taken on August 5, 2015)

Regarding the review and handling of violations by officials, Mr. Le Dinh Ly, Deputy Director of the Department of Internal Affairs and Head of the inspection team, stated: In general, the heads of units and localities have paid attention to seriously and fully implementing the recommendations of the inspection and supervision team and have taken appropriate disciplinary action against violating officials.

However, while the qualifications and capabilities of officials and civil servants have improved and basically meet the requirements of their duties, the sense of responsibility and public service ethics of a segment of officials are still not high enough, failing to demonstrate the spirit of serving the organization and the people as expected of officials, Party members, and civil servants. Therefore, the inspection and supervision of compliance with administrative discipline and order must always be maintained.

Stricter discipline is needed.

It can be said that thanks to Directive 17, many localities have learned valuable lessons in directing, leading, and organizing the implementation of tasks. In Nam Dan district, immediately after receiving information about many officials and civil servants violating Directive 17, on December 29, 2015, the Nam Dan District Party Committee issued Document 95/CV-HU on strengthening leadership in implementing Directive 17 and Directive 28 of the District Party Committee Standing Committee.

Mr. Nguyen Lam Son, Deputy Secretary of the Nam Dan District Party Committee, stated: To promptly rectify shortcomings and weaknesses, the District Party Committee requires all cadres and Party members to commit to implementing Directive 17 and Directive 28 of the District Party Committee Standing Committee, in conjunction with implementing Directive 03-CT/TW of the Politburo "on continuing to promote the study and emulation of Ho Chi Minh's moral example." Simultaneously, the implementation of the Directive will be linked to the emulation, evaluation, and ranking of organizations, individuals, cadres, Party members, and civil servants. Any organizations or individuals found to be in violation of the Directive will be severely punished.

The inspection and supervision of compliance with administrative discipline and order need to be given serious attention and implemented rigorously.

In Tan Ky district, immediately after receiving information from the provincial inspection and supervision team, the District People's Committee issued document 1545/UBND-NV requesting heads of agencies and units to direct officials and civil servants to strictly comply with the contents of Directive 17 and Directive 10. Accordingly, the Tan Ky District People's Committee requested organizations and units to quickly rectify the shortcomings and deficiencies pointed out by the inspection team, and at the same time, strictly handle individuals who violate the regulations.

Mr. Doan Tu Nghia, Head of the Internal Affairs Department of Tan Ky District, said: Immediately after receiving instructions from the District People's Committee, the inspection and supervision team inspected 5 communes and discovered many violations. The team recommended that the District People's Committee take disciplinary action. Currently, the District People's Committee is conducting an investigation into the responsibility of the Chairman of the Nghia Hanh Commune People's Committee for violations in leadership and management, including failing to strictly implement Directive 17.

Despite decisive directives and lessons learned, in some localities, violations of administrative discipline and regulations by officials, especially those in leadership positions, still occur. For example, in Nam Linh commune (Nam Dan district), on September 21, 2015, a surprise inspection by the district People's Committee found six officials arriving late for work. On December 22, 2015, the team returned for another inspection at 10:45 AM, but only one policy officer was present at the commune People's Committee office; the others were absent.

After receiving a report from the District People's Committee, the Nam Dan District Party Committee issued document 107-CV/HU requesting the Nam Linh Commune Party Committee to conduct a review and take appropriate disciplinary action against the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and the Party Secretary and Deputy Secretary. However, in the inspection report sent to the Standing Committee of the Nam Dan District Party Committee on January 22, 2016, the Standing Committee of the Nam Linh Commune Party Committee only drew lessons and experiences without imposing any disciplinary measures.

The incidents in Nam Hung and Nam Linh communes (Nam Dan district), and Tan Ky town... show that violations of administrative discipline and order occur primarily due to the limited awareness and responsibility of some officials and civil servants. More importantly, however, the leadership, supervision, inspection, detection, and handling by the heads of units and localities have not been strict or timely, and there is still a tendency towards leniency and formality, leading to more serious violations.

Officials and civil servants must be aware of their responsibility to serve the organization and the people.

Mr. Le Dinh Ly, Deputy Director of the Department of Internal Affairs, stated: "Once the head of an agency or locality is not decisive, does not care, and especially does not strictly enforce administrative discipline and order, then that agency or locality will inevitably face shortcomings, limitations, and possibly serious violations."

Therefore, to enhance the responsibility, public service ethics, and especially the spirit of service of officials and civil servants, it is essential to first assign responsibility to the head of the unit. This will promote the leadership and guidance role of the unit, so that officials, Party members, and civil servants can follow suit and strictly adhere to it. Regularly strengthen education and propaganda to raise awareness of service among each official and civil servant; pay attention to and create conditions for officials to strive and improve their working conditions so that they can focus on their work and improve efficiency.

Furthermore, it is necessary to regularly strengthen the guidance, supervision, inspection, and monitoring of civil servants to ensure strict adherence to administrative discipline and regulations. Only then will the spirit, responsibility, and service attitude of cadres, Party members, and civil servants be enhanced, meeting the requirements of new tasks and contributing to the socio-economic development of the province.

Pham Bang