MPs to get personal secretaries back
Summary
The federal government of Nepal has decided to restore personal secretaries for members of parliament to support their legislative work, reviving debates on fiscal responsibility and nepotism.
Key Points
- The federal government of Nepal has approved restoring personal secretaries for members of parliament with salaries equivalent to a gazetted third class officer.
- The provision was previously scrapped in 2025 amid austerity drives but faced criticism for hampering legislative duties.
- There have been past abuses of the provision with MPs appointing family members to these paid positions, leading to reforms requiring salaries to be paid directly to secretaries' accounts.
- Calls for an independent hiring mechanism and stricter regulations are being made to prevent nepotism and ensure professional competence among appointed secretaries.
