MPs to Get Personal Secretaries Back in Nepal

Nepal's federal government has decided to reinstate personal secretaries for members of parliament, a move that has sparked renewed debate over fiscal responsibility and potential nepotism in public service. The decision will allow lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly to appoint a personal secretary, whose salary will be equivalent to that of a gazetted third-class officer.

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Lawmakers repeatedly complained that without personal secretaries, they faced severe difficulties in conducting legislative research, drafting bills, and managing political portfolios.

Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, Sobita Gautam, stated that the Cabinet approved the proposal to amend the Act Relating to Remuneration and Facilities of Office Bearers and Members of the Federal Parliament. This amendment restores a previous structure that also included aides for the Deputy Speaker and the National Assembly Vice-Chairperson. Gautam explained that the decision was prompted by lawmakers' repeated complaints that the absence of professional administrative support hindered their legislative research, bill drafting, and management of political portfolios.

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We must give lawmakers the support they need to do their jobs effectively.

This provision was previously scrapped in October 2025 by the government led by Sushila Karki as an austerity measure. At that time, the move drew criticism from parliamentary leadership who argued it undermined legislative independence. However, the restoration is met with apprehension by critics who point to a history of abuse associated with the position.

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It is the right of the members to appoint their secretarial staff.

Concerns linger about potential nepotism, as a post-2022 election review revealed that at least 48 MPs had appointed close family members, including spouses and siblings, to these taxpayer-funded roles. To mitigate such practices, the Parliament Secretariat had previously mandated that salaries be paid directly into the secretaries' bank accounts, not the MPs'. Ekaram Giri, spokesperson for the Federal Parliament Secretariat, acknowledged the legitimacy of the demand for aides but emphasized the need for appointees to meet basic educational and professional standards, similar to those required for a section officer position.

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However, if they appoint individuals who meet the educational and professional requirements prescribed by the Public Service Commission for a section officer, the secretariat will have little reason to object.