MPs suggests unified staff for President & Vice President offices to cut costs

KATHMANDU: In today’s session of the House of Representatives, Nepali Congress lawmaker Ramhari Khatiwada proposed merging the staff of the President and Vice President’s offices as a measure to reduce government expenditure.

While commenting on the government’s policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83, MP Khatiwada stressed the need for austerity, citing Nepal’s growing public debt and inadequate revenue to cover basic expenses.

“Public debt has now exceeded Rs. 26 billion, and our revenue is insufficient to cover even regular expenditures,” he said. “If we arrange for a single staff structure for both the President and Vice President while maintaining separate residences, it would significantly help in cutting unnecessary costs.”

Khatiwada, who also chairs the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, urged the government to provide meaningful legislative business to Parliament. He also highlighted the ongoing discussions around constitutional amendments in parliamentary committees, drawing attention to the need for broader engagement.

During the debate, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) MP Deepak Bahadur Singh demanded an increase in salaries and benefits for Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and the Nepal Army. He argued that enhancing internal employment prospects through better compensation could help reduce the country’s dependence on foreign employment.

Prabhu Sah, MP from the Janamat Party, called on the government to facilitate legal channels for remittance inflow and emphasized the economic potential of protected forests and jungles. “We spend nearly Rs. 30 billion on forest conservation. But how much revenue are we generating from them?” he questioned.

Sher Bahadur Kunwar, MP from CPN (Unified Socialist), stressed that the upcoming budget must focus on addressing public disillusionment by prioritizing employment, education, accessible healthcare, agriculture, and tourism.

As discussions on the government’s policies continue, lawmakers from across the spectrum are pressing for a more efficient, transparent, and citizen-focused fiscal strategy for the year ahead.