Chief Ministers Conference concludes

Biratnagar, Oct 14: The Inter-Provincial Chief Ministers Conference concluded, laying emphasis on the implementation of federal governance systems based on the sharing of state powers, co-existence and coordination among the federation, province and local levels as provisioned in the Constitution of Nepal. 

In the joint Declaration issued after the two-day conference organized by the Koshi Province government, consensus was reached on operating all three levels of government according to the constitutional provisions and further strengthening the federal governance systems. 

As per Articles 56, 57, 59, 60, and 232 to 236 of the Constitution and the relevant schedules, the solid basis for governance should be established according to the division of powers, responsibilities, resource mobilization, and inter-provincial coordination and cooperation. 

It was noted that challenges such as unclear jurisdiction, overlap of responsibilities, delays in lawmaking, employee and structural management issues, insufficient financial resources, incomplete transfer of federal assets and liabilities, and intergovernmental coordination exist in the process of implementing federalism. 

The Koshi Province Conference expressed agreement on topics included in the Sustainable Development Goals, Nepal Government's Sixteenth Plan, and periodic plans, policies, and priorities of all seven provinces, concluding that the effective use of constitutionally granted provincial powers, good governance, and citizen-centered service delivery are the foundation of strengthening federalism.