Two weeks review of the operation of two-level local government:Innovation, strong transformation
After 2 weeks of operating the two-level local government, Nghe An has recorded positive signals from the grassroots. The commune level, which directly contacts and serves the people, is clearly demonstrating a spirit of innovation and strong transformation. In the context of being assigned more tasks, the province is synchronously implementing solutions to enhance the implementation capacity of grassroots cadres and civil servants.
When the commune levelinnovation, transformation
Mr. Le Xuan Huong walked out of the Commune Administrative Service Center with a relieved smile. Not because the paperwork was completed easily, but because he clearly felt the fundamental change in the way the government serves the people.
Previously the Vice Chairman of the Veterans Association of Hung Tien commune, he retired during the process of merging Hung Tien, Nam Cat, Nam Giang, Xuan Hong and Kim Lien communes into the new Kim Lien commune.
When he learned that the Government had just issued Decree No. 154/2025/ND-CP dated June 15, 2025, effective from June 16, 2025, clearly stipulating groups of subjects subject to staff streamlining, early retirement and resignation, Mr. Huong proactively went to the commune to complete related procedures.
Although the new commune headquarters is more than 5km from his home, farther than the old Hung Tien commune location, he still completely agrees and supports the government reorganization.
For him, that distance is no longer a problem when accompanied by a new operating method. “Clear procedures, transparent processes, dedicated staff attitude”, he shared briefly but confidently. That trust in a former cadre who has been attached to the grassroots political system for many years is not simply personal satisfaction but reflects great expectations.
In Van An commune, the new administrative unit established on the basis of merging Nam Dan town and Xuan Hoa and Thuong Tan Loc communes is also following that trajectory.
In mid-July, we met Mr. Nguyen Trong Nam (from the old Xuan Hoa commune), a 1/4 class disabled veteran, who was doing procedures related to policies at the Commune Public Administration Service Center.
“When they knew I was a war invalid, the staff of the Public Administration Service Center proactively carried out the procedures, I just sat and waited to receive the results,” said Mr. Nam.
The priority given to Mr. Nam is not a personal privilege but a manifestation of a legal principle that has been affirmed in many current legal documents: War invalids are prioritized subjects when carrying out administrative procedures. They are supported with early reception, receive dedicated guidance, have their fees exempted or reduced, and especially are treated with respect and gratitude.
The story of Mr. Huong and Mr. Nam that we witnessed is not an isolated case, but reflects a large and clear movement spreading in Nghe An when the two-level local government officially comes into operation.
It is easy to see the strong changes at the commune level, not only stopping at reorganizing the apparatus or adjusting administrative boundaries but also spreading deeply into the management method, working style and especially the service attitude clearly expressing the new governance philosophy: The government serves instead of manages, taking people's satisfaction as the center and service efficiency as the real measure.
Innovation of the apparatusgo along with improving enforcement capacity
Up to now, along with the whole country, Nghe An has officially operated the two-level local government for exactly two weeks.
The time is not long but it is enough to identify both the initial results and the problems arising in the transformation process, especially at the commune level, which has been decentralized more in terms of authority and assigned more functions and tasks that were previously under the district level.
This requires the team of commune-level cadres and civil servants to quickly adapt to a more stressful, multi-tasking working environment with higher requirements for qualifications and skills, especially information technology and digital transformation.
At the 31st session of the 18th term People's Council of Nghe An province, many delegates requested the Provincial People's Committee to strengthen training and foster professional skills and public service performance for commune-level officials and civil servants. In particular, the content of special interest is training in information technology, digital transformation skills and updating new legal regulations.
In response to delegates' opinions and practical requirements, immediately after the meeting, provincial leaders quickly deployed measures to support the grassroots.
Comrades Nguyen Duc Trung - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Le Hong Vinh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee directly inspected and grasped the situation in a number of communes in both the plains and mountainous areas; from communes merged from many old administrative units to communes with unchanged administrative boundaries.
The purpose of the inspections is not only to evaluate operational efficiency but also to promptly remove practical obstacles and strengthen the province's political determination to work with the grassroots level, so that the apparatus can quickly operate smoothly, stably and effectively.
Based on the actual situation, the Provincial People's Committee has directed the Department of Finance to issue a document requesting localities to fully report on the funding needs for purchasing equipment, repairing, renovating and upgrading office buildings. In the immediate future, the province will allocate 141 billion VND from the central budget to support communes and wards.
For larger needs such as: Investment in information technology equipment, headquarters renovation, digital transformation, etc., the Department of Finance is synthesizing and classifying in order of priority to propose to the Central Government, while balancing the provincial budget to support according to the principle of focused investment, avoiding spreading.
One of the key issues today is the quality and ability to master technology of the team of cadres and civil servants at the commune level. Director of the Department of Science and Technology Nguyen Quy Linh said: Network operators and telecommunications units have arranged human resources to be on duty at the Public Administration Service Centers to "hold hands and guide", accompany commune-level cadres in technical operations and approach new processes. In addition, the Department has also developed a plan to organize in-depth training for information technology specialists at the commune level.
In particular, to strengthen the connection between the province and the commune level, Nghe An is urgently completing and is expected to officially put into operation the Intelligent Operations Center (IOC) from September 2025.
This system acts as a technological bridge, helping the government interact promptly with the people, while simultaneously managing the unified operations of administrative levels.
Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh directed the Provincial People's Committee Office to coordinate with departments and branches to organize specialized training conferences by field for commune-level officials and civil servants.
The training content will closely follow local practices, focusing on specific situations in the form of questions and answers and "hands-on instruction", to help commune-level officials not only understand the law and grasp the process, but also know how to effectively apply it to practical work.
Nghe An's proactive review, focused investment, practical training organization and timely implementation of technical support systems are showing decisive and methodical participation.
If it continues to be maintained and flexibly adjusted according to reality, this will be an important foundation for the two-level local government apparatus to truly operate effectively and efficiently, not only in accordance with the law but also in accordance with people's expectations.