08/05/2023 13:08
There are unnecessary ambiguities in administrative procedures, causing public frustration and hindering the improvement and enhancement of the quality of public administration services. One of the causes of this situation is the shirking and avoidance of responsibility.
Due to the nature of my profession, I am aware of many stories with complexities related to administrative procedures and the agencies and individuals responsible for resolving them.
Most recently, my friend angrily recounted how a local official in a certain ward, out of fear of "no precedent" and "it not being their responsibility," flatly refused to certify his application, even though it was valid and legal.
From such true stories, I realize that there are always unnecessary avoidances and shirking of responsibility in handling administrative procedures, causing public frustration and hindering the improvement and enhancement of the quality of public administration services.
Sadly, the public's feedback is often vague, not naming specific individuals. Although frustrated by this kind of "avoidance and shirking of responsibility," many citizens and businesses are hesitant and afraid of causing trouble, so they also avoid the issue altogether.
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Administrative activities are characterized by their close connection to the daily lives of citizens and their comprehensive coverage of all social sectors. Efforts, whether from individuals or organizations, aim to enhance the image of agencies, units, and localities.
However, some officials and civil servants evade responsibility, trying to pass it on to others, to superiors, to subordinates, or even pushing it into a drawer (doing nothing)—the very work within their purview.
This problem has long existed within the administrative system. It's usually divided into two "groups": Those officials who inherently lack competence and professional skills are always hesitant, afraid of making mistakes, and therefore remain complacent and cling to their positions.
As for officials who already lack a sense of responsibility, they always remember the saying, "The more you do, the more mistakes you make; the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make; if you do nothing, you make no mistakes."
However, this problem worsened after the prosecution and arrest of several former leaders from various periods, related to land and project irregularities in provinces and cities.
Rumors like, "Guess what? Mr. A is about to be investigated!" or "Mr. C is about to be reprimanded for daring to break the rules!" are whispered among people and spread at lightning speed. As a result, the fear of making mistakes and taking responsibility becomes increasingly evident.
The consequences of shirking and avoiding responsibility are prolonged work processes, hindering and reducing the effectiveness and efficiency of leadership and management by all levels of government; in some cases, it leads to significant stagnation, eroding public and business confidence in state agencies, and affecting the achievement of set socio-economic development goals.
In particular, with sensitive and complex tasks involving multiple agencies, departments, and localities, such as land clearance and land acquisition; and handling administrative procedures for citizens and businesses, shirking and avoiding responsibility causes even more harm.
There are many reasons, both subjective and objective, that lead to this situation, but subjective reasons are the main ones.
In particular, the awareness, understanding, and responsibility of some officials and civil servants in complying with the law and work regulations are still limited and do not meet the requirements of their duties.
The tendency to prioritize personal safety, adopting the philosophy of "doing little means making few mistakes, doing much means making many mistakes, doing nothing means making no mistakes," exists among a significant number of leaders and those in positions of responsibility.
On the other hand, the criteria for evaluating and classifying officials and civil servants are still too general, failing to motivate dedicated and talented officials to actively contribute, and failing to deter lazy and complacent officials who simply "go to work with an umbrella in the morning and return home with an umbrella in the evening." The monitoring, supervision, and inspection of the performance of official duties have not received adequate attention.
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To avoid a situation where dynamic, creative, and innovative individuals might suffer losses and risks, while those who are sluggish and inactive reap the benefits, the Party promptly issued Conclusion No. 14-KL/TW dated September 22, 2021, of the Politburo on encouraging and protecting cadres who dare to think, act, and are dynamic and creative for the common good.
Recently, on April 19th, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed and issued Official Dispatch No. 280/CĐ-TTg on rectifying and strengthening responsibility in handling work of ministries, agencies, and localities.
The official dispatch stated that recently, in some ministries, agencies, localities, and among a segment of officials and civil servants, there has been a tendency to avoid and shirk work, exhibiting a hesitant attitude, fear of making mistakes, fear of responsibility, and a reluctance to advise or propose solutions to problems, as well as a reluctance to make decisions within their authority.
There are instances where matters are escalated to higher-level agencies or transferred to other ministries and agencies, lacking close, timely, and effective coordination between ministries, agencies, and localities.
Therefore, the Prime Minister requested increased accountability and a stronger spirit of daring to speak, think, and act for the benefit of the country and the people in ministries, agencies, localities, and among officials and civil servants; overcoming the tendency to shirk or avoid responsibility in handling work; ensuring administrative discipline and order; and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of leadership and management.
In cases of shirking responsibility, avoiding accountability, or failing to make decisions on matters within their authority, the relevant collective and individual responsibilities must be reviewed and handled in accordance with the regulations of the Party and the State - the official dispatch stated.
Enhancing the competitiveness of a locality depends not only on the proper enforcement of regulations and laws, but also on the spirit of service and sense of responsibility, the willingness to think outside the box, take initiative, and be creative for the common good of those performing public duties.
Of course, daring to think and act doesn't mean being reckless or careless. Acting for the common good is different from acting for personal gain. On the other hand, those who clearly do wrong must be punished, while those who dare to act and do the right thing should be protected.
Hong Lam
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