In advanced countries, the public administrative mechanism is the foundation and benchmark for a progressive society. The more perfect the administration system is, the better the society becomes.

Jusitifiable aspiration

The public administrative agencies at different levels in Vietnam have faced numerous challenges. The statistics from the Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI), conducted by the Vietnam Fatherland Front in the past four years, have pointed to noteworthy issues.

Among a total of 13,552 randomly selected respondents joining a survey in 2014, up to 49 per cent of them said bribes are a must if they want a job in public agencies. Thirty-three per cent replied they have paid under the table for land use certificates, while another 43 per cent have paid sums to doctors and nurses for more attention while seeking treatment at public hospitals.

Worryingly, the PAPI indices in 2014, the latest ones, have seen no noted change from the earliest ones in 2011. Meanwhile, there has been a rise in the number of respondents who think corruption and pestering at State administrative agencies persist.

In the next 20 years, the State administrative apparatus would hopefully get perfected in being fairer and more systematic. This is also citizens’ justifiable aspiration and a future trend.

The agencies would offer quality service to people through an effective mechanism which is well organized thanks to latest technological applications.

All administrative transactions across the country would be conducted promptly online. Staffers would be trimmed down as much as possible.

They would be dedicated public servants who offer good public services, treat all people equally and complete the paperwork in the shortest of time.

In the next 20 years, public administrative agencies would be free of corruption and citizen pestering. People then would take a better role in overseeing public service administration, demand full rights when doing transactions and receive optimum results.

Transparency for people’s supervision

First of all, citizens are supposed to take a key role in perfecting the public administration mechanism by contributing their opinions and fighting actively at grassroots agencies.

They should also grasp the administrative procedures and insist civil servants strictly comply with the procedures. People should blow the whistle and denunciate civil servants’ wrongdoings instead of being intimidated or acting as their accomplices.

It’s also advisable that citizens make contributions to agencies’ leaders to perfect certain rules and procedures.

It’s essential that the State ensures transparency in all their public administrative services so that people will grasp them and oversee them more effectively. Transparency is manifest in making public all procedures, paperwork and fees of each transaction. Only then that people can fully exercise their mastery over public administrative activities.

Modernizing the administration apparatus with informatics applications is a premium solution to enhance the appartus’ efficiency. Once the digitalized system of information is perfect, management tasks would be performed strictly and synchronously, with little margin for blunders or misdemeanors.

This will not only benefit citizens but also help the State trim its current bulky apparatus of civil servants.

Working on policies, implementing them and monitoring the provision of public services are three interrelated processes which reflect the State’s administration power. Inappropriate policies, improper implementation and inadequate monitoring will adversely impact social stability.

It’s critical that the State take these tasks into close consideration and people fully partake in these tasks with a view to establish a fair society and spur on social growth.

NHAT GIANG (26, Hanoi)

Source: Tuoi Tre Newspaper