The government's recent appointments in the police force and the academic area are a significant step toward guaranteeing competent leadership in key institutions. The appointments hint at the government's dedication to seniority and meritocracy, which is aptly demonstrated by the choice to name Additional Inspector General (AIG) Deepak Thapa as the 31st Inspector General of Police (IGP). The appointment of Professor Achyut Wagle as Kathmandu University's vice chancellor (VC) hints at the application of the same principle. Meanwhile, the government must maintain this trend by selecting a highly qualified and independent candidate to head Nepal Rastra Bank as the current governor's term draws to a close in three weeks. Our nation has long suffered from a culture of appointments based on political affiliations, nepotism, and favoritism at the cost of effectiveness and sound governance and the performance of important institutions has frequently suffered setbacks from this practice. The appointment of Deepak Thapa as IGP to lead a force with 80,000 personnel, is a positive step. Thapa comes with strong experience in disaster relief, human resource management, and crime investigation. He has held a number of leadership positions in the Nepal Police. His appointment based on seniority upholds the fairness principle by avoiding needless political meddling in the chain of command.
Lately, the choice of naming leadership at Kathmandu University has been causing problems. However, with the incumbent registrar Wagle’s promotion as the VC, the government has indicated its intention to restore credibility and stability in one of Nepal's most esteemed educational institutions. Professor Achyut Wagle is a renowned academic and economy and policy analyst, with degrees from reputed international universities. Indeed, a good example is set for the academic community after a scholar with an excellent professional background has been appointed. Another tough challenge for the government will be the naming of the new governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank. Recent times have seen rising inflation, challenges in the management of monetary policy, and a lack of liquidity management that are piling pressure on the financial sector. The banking and financial sectors have witnessed a stagnant situation. An experienced economist or financial expert who is capable of dealing with these complexities without undue political intervention needs to head the central bank. Let’s hope that merit, not political patronage, will be the basis of the next governor’s appointment.
It is imperative that important state institutions be run by people with the knowledge and autonomy to carry out their duties in an efficient manner in order to realize good governance and swift service delivery. The government has made a good first move by selecting qualified individuals to head the police force and Kathmandu University, a center for academic excellence in the country. Unlike the Tribhuvan University, which has been paralyzed by frequent political interference, the KU has been credited with functioning without undue political influence. The same criterion must now be followed when the government appoints Nepal Rastra Bank's next governor. Nepal's public institutions will be better off to develop a culture of professionalism and accountability if the vicious cycle of nepotism, favoritism, and political affiliations in key appointments is broken. If the government prioritizes merits in all of its appointments, it will undeniably consolidate public institutions, which will, without a doubt, help rebuild trust in our governance system. The recent appointments are indeed a positive sign, which will go miles in ensuring fair appointments in all government institutions in the days ahead.