Wolesi Jirga or lower house members on Saturday asked the government to introduce nominees for the vacant Cabinet portfolios as soon as possible, demanding an end to the ‘culture of acting officials’.
The Cabinet seats fell vacant on November 2 when the lower house summoned 16 ministers and impeached the ministers of foreign affairs, labour, public works, education, transport, communication and higher education in absentia.
Currently, the ministries of information and culture, mines and petroleum and border and tribal affairs are headed by acting ministers.
Gen. Nazifa Zaki, a lawmaker from Kabul, told today’s session that acting officials were just passing their time and did nothing.
Incompetent administration prevailed in offices run by acting officials, a problem the government should resolve forthwith, she demanded.
Semin Barakzi, a lawmaker from western Herat province, also demanded an end to officials working in acting capacity.
“When you visit an organization led by acting officials, no one will respond to you, this is not in the interest of people and the government, the government must introduce these officials to the lower house for a vote of confidence,” she said.
Some other lawmakers held similar views. Mohammad Nazir Ahmadzai, the second deputy speaker, said it was a matter of concern that the acting culture continued.
He also asked the government to introduce the acting officials to the house for a vote of confidence.
On March 15, Wolesi Jirga speaker Abdur Raouf Ibrahimi said that the president had promised to introduce nominees for the vacant Cabinet seats soon.
The lower house in 2015 approved the law on acting officials, barring officials from performing duty for more than two months in acting capacity.
Date: 01/04/2017
Author: Khawaja Basir Fitri
Source: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/04/01/lawmakers-seek-end-culture-acting-officials
