There are still errors in processing petitions from the grassroots level.

On the morning of November 22, continuing the sixth session, the National Assembly listened to the Government's report and the verification report of the National Assembly's Committee on Law on citizen reception and complaint and denunciation settlement in 2023.

Government Inspector General Doan Hong Phong presented the Government's report.

Received 453,097 complaints and denunciations

Presenting the Government's report, Government Inspector General Doan Hong Phong said: Regarding the work of receiving citizens of administrative agencies, in 2023, there were 391,512 people coming to complain, denounce, make recommendations, and reflect on 294,909 cases; there were 2,943 large groups.

Administrative agencies received 453,097 petitions of all kinds; processed 428,955 petitions, of which 348,181 were eligible, including 52,637 complaints and 22,342 denunciations; there were 29,040 complaints and denunciations under their jurisdiction. The results of complaint settlement were 17,463/21,374 cases, reaching 81.7%; 6,618/7,666 denunciations were settled, reaching 86.3%.

The Government Inspectorate has coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security, relevant ministries, branches and localities to inspect, review and resolve 1,003 pending, complicated and prolonged complaints and denunciations. On that basis, the Government Inspectorate has reported to the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister has issued a document directing the Government Inspectorate, the Ministry of Public Security and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to organize implementation in the coming time.

The Government Inspectorate has completed entering data on these 1,003 cases into the National Database for ministries, branches and localities to exploit and use. The People's Courts at all levels, the People's Procuracy at all levels and the State Audit have no pending, complicated or prolonged complaints or denunciations.

Regarding the inspection of the responsibility for implementing the law on receiving citizens, handling complaints and denunciations, 1,531 inspections and examinations of the responsibility for implementing the law on complaints and denunciations were conducted at 2,408 agencies, organizations and units; 1,283 conclusions were issued. Through the inspection, administrative sanctions were recommended for 233 organizations and 520 individuals with violations.

Government Inspector General Doan Hong Phong said that although citizen reception work has improved compared to the previous period, the implementation of periodic citizen reception by heads of some agencies, ministries, branches and localities has not been fully implemented according to the provisions of the law; the quality of handling petitions in some localities is not high, there are still errors and mistakes, and timely handling has not been considered right at the grassroots level.

The rate of handling complaints and denunciations under the authority of administrative agencies is lower than in 2022 and has not yet reached the target; the quality of handling in some localities is still limited; the organization of implementation of decisions on handling complaints and conclusions on denunciations is still slow and not thorough in some places. The inspection and review of pending, complicated and prolonged cases in some localities is not proactive and is still slow compared to the requirements of the Prime Minister.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Law Committee Hoang Thanh Tung presented the inspection report.

Handling complaints and denunciations at the grassroots level is still limited.

Reviewing the Government's report, Chairman of the National Assembly's Law Committee Hoang Thanh Tung said: The report shows that the work of receiving citizens and handling complaints and denunciations in 2023 continued to be innovative, achieving positive results, promptly resolving in accordance with the law 81.7% of complaints and 86.3% of denunciations under its jurisdiction.

However, the number of citizens coming directly to ministries and branches to make complaints, denunciations, petitions and reflections has increased sharply, especially in the number of large groups (up 296%), showing that the effectiveness of handling complaints and denunciations at the grassroots level is still limited, and the situation of citizens filing complaints to central agencies continues to be complicated. Therefore, it is recommended that the Government direct an assessment to clarify the causes in order to have appropriate solutions and thoroughly resolve complaints and denunciations right at the grassroots level.

The direct reception of citizens by heads of state administrative agencies is best implemented at the commune level (commune-level People's Committee chairmen directly receive 91%); at the provincial level, there are positive changes (provincial-level People's Committee chairmen receive 79%), 2% higher than in 2022 (77%) and 23% higher than the 5-year average of the 2016-2021 period (56%). However, at the ministerial level, it only reaches 60% as prescribed.

It is forecasted that in 2024, in localities with high urbanization rates, hot spots for administrative complaints and denunciations will still be related to land and the environment, especially for projects requiring land acquisition, compensation, and resettlement...

"Therefore, we request the Government to pay attention, closely follow the situation, resolutely direct, set out specific tasks, and strengthen the responsibility of relevant agencies to promptly handle arising issues, and avoid complicated complaints and denunciations," said Mr. Hoang Thanh Tung.

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