Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang delivers a speech. Photo: VNA.
On the afternoon of February 28th, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the reorganization of district and commune-level administrative units in the 2023-2030 period . *50 districts and 1,243 communes will be reorganized. The report at the meeting indicated that, as of December 31st, 2023, all 56/56 provinces and cities with district and commune-level administrative units subject to reorganization in the 2023-2025 period had submitted their overall plans to the Ministry of Interior . Based on the consolidated opinions of relevant central ministries and agencies, the Ministry of Interior has issued 56 documents providing feedback on the reorganization plans of the localities. Currently, localities are urgently developing and finalizing the reorganization plans to organize consultations with voters and obtain approval from People's Councils at all levels as prescribed, before reporting to the Government for submission to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for consideration and decision. According to the report on the number of district-level and commune-level administrative units undergoing restructuring in the 2023-2025 period, the total number of district-level administrative units undergoing restructuring is 50 (including: 11 units subject to restructuring, 16 units encouraged to undergo restructuring, and 23 adjacent units), with an expected reduction of 14 units after restructuring. The total number of district-level administrative units subject to restructuring but whose localities have requested not to undergo restructuring due to specific factors is 19 units. For commune-level units, the total number of commune-level administrative units undergoing restructuring is 1,243 (including: 738 units subject to restructuring, 109 units encouraged to undergo restructuring, and 396 adjacent units), with an expected reduction of 619 units after restructuring. The total number of commune-level administrative units subject to restructuring but whose localities have requested not to undergo restructuring due to specific factors is 515 units. Reporting at the meeting, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra stated that the reorganization of district and commune-level administrative units in the 2023-2025 period must be completed before October 2024 to allow localities sufficient time to prepare for the Party Congresses at all levels for the 2025-2030 term, leading up to the 14th National Party Congress, with the grassroots level implementation taking place in the first quarter of 2025. Thus, the actual time remaining to complete all administrative unit reorganization procedures is only about six months. However, because the reorganization of administrative units is a crucial and complex issue with significant impact and a rigorous, multi-stage implementation process, localities face many difficulties in ensuring timely completion. "This is the final stage, while the number of administrative units to be reorganized is very large, especially in localities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nghe An, Hai Phong... Therefore, localities must strive to complete the process," the Minister of Home Affairs emphasized. Therefore, in the coming period, several key tasks and solutions must be focused on, such as: Concentrating on directing the timely resolution of obstacles and difficulties arising from the reorganization of district and commune-level administrative units; Arranging and resolving policies and benefits for officials and civil servants affected by the reorganization; Reviewing, compiling a list, and assessing the current status and usage of public offices in administrative units; Review, adjust, and update land use plans and schemes;... In addition, the Steering Committee will also report to the competent authorities to consider the responsibility of localities that are not decisive or show signs of avoiding implementing the rearrangement of district and commune-level administrative units as required by the Politburo, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, and the Government. * Do a good job of communication and create consensus.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang delivers a speech. Photo: VNA.
Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang acknowledged and highly appreciated the efforts of the Steering Committee members, the Ministry of Interior, and other ministries, sectors, and localities in implementing the plan and achieving positive initial results. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the policy on restructuring district and commune levels with the goal of streamlining the administrative apparatus and improving efficiency. Looking ahead, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed the need to urgently simplify internal administrative procedures and shorten the time for feedback and appraisal of proposals. He requested the Steering Committee members to provide input so that the Ministry of Interior can finalize the Steering Committee's operational plan for 2024. The Ministry of Interior should develop a mechanism for receiving and processing information promptly and effectively from Steering Committee members and localities; proactively review and synthesize the recommendations and difficulties of localities to coordinate handling, guidance, and support. The Ministry of Construction will provide specific guidance on urban classification for cities, towns, and townships expected to be formed after the reorganization, and on assessing the level of urban infrastructure development for districts and wards expected to be formed after the reorganization. The Ministry of Finance will soon submit to the Government a Decree to replace Decree No. 167/2017/ND-CP and Decree No. 67/2021/ND-CP regulating the reorganization and handling of public assets. In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the need to focus on effective communication to create consensus and unity in both awareness and action among all segments of the population, especially those affected by the administrative reorganization process; and to prepare thorough, scientific, flexible, and appropriate reorganization plans tailored to the specific situation, conditions, and circumstances of each agency, unit, and locality.
Xuan Tung/VNA