Kathmandu, May 15
Prime Minister KP
Sharma Oli has expressed his desire to appoint a
capable individual to the vacant position of Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank
(NRB) based on merit rather than personal connections.
“I have no one to place at the Rastra Bank.
The intention is to appoint someone capable based on meritocracy. If the person
is competent, the country will benefit. There is no need for 'my person',"
he said while speaking at the launching of the Former Planners’ Forum Nepal (FPFN) in Kathmandu on Thursday.
The FPFN is a platform
comprising former vice-chairs and members of the National Planning Commission
(NPC) established with an aim to support the governments in evidence-based
policymaking and foster inclusive development in Nepal.
PM Oli further said, "I may be the
Prime Minister, but I am not the government alone. Therefore, I strive to
prioritise meritocracy as much as possible.”
He also maintained that the appointments to
the positions of chairperson and members of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission (TRC) and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared
Persons (CIEDP) were made based on the recommendations of the selection
committee, ensuring that competent individuals were appointed.
Apart from knowing one of the commission
chairs during his time as chief secretary, he said he had no personal
acquaintance or relationship with any of the appointees.
"We have tried to
appoint the persons with qualification and expertise," said PM Oli.
Earlier on Wednesday,
the government appointed officials for the two
transitional justice bodies, completing the formation of the TRC and the CIEDP.
A Cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening
approved the names recommended by the committee led by former Chief Justice Om
Prakash Mishra.
Wishing for an exchange of ideas and
experiences through the FPFN, PM Oli expressed hopes for institutional
sustainability of the organisation without any clashes of personalities.
Speaking on the
occasion, Vice-Chairman of the NPC, Prof. Dr. Shiva Raj Adhikari, said that
there has not been a significant shift in macro-economic policies adopted by
the governments over time. "We need an impactful reform in the public
sector, especially at the implementation of development projects," he
said.
He stated that the NPC is in a phase of
gradual reform.
He noted that, in the past, any project
could be included under the banner of 'development project' due to the lack of
a clear definition. However, that practice has now been discontinued. Dr.
Adhikari informed that the project bank has been revised, older projects have
been archived, and a fresh approach has been initiated.
He further shared that while not a single
project was submitted from Madhes Province last year, this year the highest
number of projects has come from the same province.
Former VC of the NPC,
Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri, said that it was unfortunate that the post of Governor
of the Nepal Rastra Bank has become a contentious political agenda. "For a
country that is in the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force, not having
the leader at the central bank cannot be a good sign," he said.
Trade expert Dr.
Poshraj Pandey, former member of the NPC and vice-chairperson of FPFN, and Dr.
Dilli Raj Khanal, former member of the NPC and executive member of FPFN,
highlighted the current geopolitical landscape and economic challenges and
inclusive growth through the upcoming budget, respectively.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 May 2025.
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