Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang speaks. Photo: VNA.
On the afternoon of February 28, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the rearrangement of district and commune-level administrative units for the 2023-2030 period . * 50 districts and 1,243 communes will be rearranged. The report at the meeting said that as of December 31, 2023, all 56/56 provinces and cities with district and commune-level administrative units subject to rearrangement for the 2023-2025 period had sent their overall plans to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Based on the synthesis of opinions from relevant central ministries and branches, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued 56 documents providing comments on the rearrangement plans of localities. Currently, localities are urgently developing and completing the rearrangement project to organize the collection of voters' opinions, pass the People's Councils at all levels according to regulations to report to the Government to submit to the National Assembly Standing Committee for consideration and decision. According to the report on the number of district-level and commune-level administrative units to be reorganized in the 2023-2025 period, the total number of district-level administrative units to be reorganized is 50 units (including: 11 units subject to reorganization, 16 encouraged units and 23 adjacent units), after the reorganization, it is expected to decrease by 14 units. The total number of district-level administrative units subject to reorganization but localities propose not to reorganize due to special factors is 19 units. For commune level, the total number of commune-level administrative units to be reorganized is 1,243 units (including: 738 units subject to reorganization, 109 encouraged units and 396 adjacent units), after the reorganization, it is expected to decrease by 619 units. The total number of commune-level administrative units subject to reorganization but localities propose not to reorganize due to special factors is 515 units. Reporting at the meeting, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra said: The arrangement of administrative units at district and commune levels in the period of 2023 - 2025 must be completed before October 2024 so that localities can prepare to organize Party Congresses at all levels for the term 2025 - 2030, towards the 14th National Party Congress, in which the grassroots level will implement in the first quarter of 2025. Thus, the actual time to carry out all administrative unit arrangement procedures is only about 6 months. Meanwhile, because the arrangement of administrative units is an important and complicated content, with a large level of impact and influence, the implementation process is carried out strictly, through many stages, so localities face many difficulties in ensuring the required time schedule. "This is the final stage, while the number of administrative units to be rearranged is very large, especially in localities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nghe An, Hai Phong... Therefore, localities must strive to complete it" - the Minister of Home Affairs emphasized. Therefore, in the coming time, it is necessary to focus on a number of key tasks and solutions such as: Focusing on directing the timely resolution of problems and difficulties arising from the rearrangement of administrative units at district and commune levels; Arranging and resolving policies for cadres, civil servants and public employees affected by the rearrangement; Reviewing, making a list and assessing the current status and situation of use of public offices in administrative units; Review, adjust, and update land use planning and plans;... In addition, the Steering Committee will also report to competent authorities to consider responsibilities for cases where localities are not resolute and show signs of avoiding the implementation of the arrangement of administrative units at district and commune levels as required by the Politburo, the National Assembly Standing Committee, and the Government. * Do a good job of communication, create consensus
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang speaks. Photo: VNA.
Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang acknowledged and highly appreciated the efforts of the members of the Steering Committee, the Ministry of Home Affairs, ministries, branches and localities who have made efforts and tried to implement and achieved initial positive results. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the policy of rearranging the district and commune levels with the goal of streamlining the apparatus and improving efficiency. In the coming time, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the need to urgently simplify internal administrative procedures, shorten the time for commenting and appraising projects. The Deputy Prime Minister asked the members of the Steering Committee to give their opinions so that the Ministry of Home Affairs can complete the Steering Committee's Action Plan in 2024. The Ministry of Home Affairs will develop a mechanism to receive and process information promptly and effectively from members of the Steering Committee and localities; proactively review and synthesize recommendations and problems of localities for coordination in handling, guidance and support. The Ministry of Construction provides specific guidance on urban classification for cities, towns, and townships expected to be formed after the rearrangement and assessment of the level of urban infrastructure development for districts and wards expected to be formed after the rearrangement. The Ministry of Finance shall promptly submit to the Government for promulgation a Decree replacing Decree No. 167/2017/ND-CP and Decree No. 67/2021/ND-CP regulating the rearrangement and handling of public assets. In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the need to focus on doing a good job of propaganda, creating high consensus and unity in awareness and action among all classes of people, especially those affected and influenced in the process of rearranging administrative units; preparing a thorough, scientific, flexible rearrangement plan, suitable to the specific situation, conditions, and circumstances of each agency, unit, and locality./.
Xuan Tung/VNA