Inter-Governmental Management:
Intergovernmental relations refer to the system of organizing and managing the mutual relationships among different levels of government. It involves coordinating political, administrative, financial, and planning relations between governments to ensure cooperation, effective governance, balanced development, and smooth implementation of policies and programs across all levels of the state.
Theoretical Foundations of Inter-Governmental Management:
- Effectiveness: There must be interrelationship between policies, plans, and programs for the effectiveness of Federal Units.
- Accountability: Appropriate control and balance provisions must be in place to ensure accountability through external monitoring and validation of actions.
- Transparency: There must be assurance of transparency in policy making, decision-making processes, and results.
- Efficiency: Inter-Governmental relations should help the country overcome political and administrative barriers to achieve long-term goals with efficiency.
- Interdependence: Federal Units must collaborate in a way that ensures their operations are free from undue influence or pressure. There must be strong political and administrative commitment to the independence and autonomy of Federal Units.
Factors Influencing Inter-Governmental Relations:
- The country’s political philosophy, behavior, and environment,
- Division of responsibilities and resources among Governments,
- Political culture, party system, and leadership mindset,
- Administrative and technical capacity of the concerned Governments,
- Complexities in policy and legal arrangements,
- The level of Federalism, the number, and nature of Federal Units,
- Governance quality in the Federal, Province, and Local Governments,
- Integrity in transferring powers and plans from the center to Federal Units,
- The tendency of Federal Units to engage in matters outside their jurisdiction,
- The integrity and readiness of Federal Units in implementing Federalism.
Constitutional Arrangements for Inter-Governmental Relations:
Some Important Provisions:
- Article 56: Structure of the State,
- Article 57: Division of State Powers,
- Article 59: Exercise of Fiscal Rights,
- Article 60: Distribution of Revenue Sources,
- Part 20: Interrelations between the Federal, Provinces, and Local Levels.
- Article 231: Administrative Interrelations between the Federal and Provinces
- Federal and Provincial laws,
- Lawmaking on the request of one or more Provinces.
- Article 232: Relations between the Federal, Provinces, and Local Levels
- Based on principles of Relationship, Cooperation, Co-Existence, and Co-ordination,
- Will be directed as per the Federal law,
- Suspension or dissolution can be done within six months.
- Article 233: Relations between Provinces
- Necessary cooperation in legal, judicial, and administrative decisions or orders.
- Article 234: Inter-Province Council
- Resolves political disputes between the Federal-Province and Province-Province (Chaired by the Prime Minister, with Home and Finance Ministers of the Federal Government and the Chief Ministers of concerned Provinces as members).
- Article 235: Coordination between the Federal, Provinces, and Local Levels
- The Federal parliament can make laws for coordination between all three levels.
- Article 236: Interstate Trade
- No obstruction in the transportation of goods or expansion of services.
Legal Foundation:
- Inter-Governmental Fiscal Arrangement Act, 2074:
- Inter-Governmental Financial Council,
- Minister of Finance from the Federal and Provincial Governments, and two representatives (Chair and Vice Chair) from each Province’s Local levels.
- Local Government Operation Act, 2074: Provincial Coordination Council,
- Comprising the Chief Minister, Ministers of the Provincial Government, Chief Secretaries, and Local level representatives in the Province.
- National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission Act, 2074: Ensures the balanced distribution of natural resources and financial sources between Federal Units.
Problems in Inter-Governmental Relations:
- Overlapping Jurisdiction: There is overlap in areas of jurisdiction.
- Failure to Develop Core and Complementary Policies: Based on the report of work expansion, the core and complementary policies have not been developed.
- Policy Confusion: Uncertainty in policy decisions.
- Transfer of plans and programs under the schedule is not taking place correctly.
- Persistence of Old Practices: The Federal continues to retain responsibilities that have existed historically.
- Lack of Uniformity in Coordination Bodies:
- Coordination activities to Local Levels are performed by the Ministry of FAGA, while the Provincial Government handles from OPMCM.
- Institutionalization of Structure and Processes: The Provincial and Local Governments have not institutionalized their structures and processes.
- Political Independence vs. Economic Entitlement: Provinces and Local Governments show tendencies of political independence but expect economic entitlement.
- Lack of Sufficient Manpower: There is insufficient human resource capacity at the Provincial and Local levels.
- Neglect of Grievances: The Federal Government has ignored the grievances raised by Local and Provincial Governments.
- Efforts for dialogue, cooperation, and coordination are minimal.
- Lack of Ownership in Federal Programs: Federal programs and projects transferred to Provinces and Local levels lack a sense of ownership.
- Lack of Autonomy: Federal Units are not fully autonomous in implementing their responsibilities.
- The need for a clear establishment of boundaries and mutual respect in their jurisdictions.
- Non-compliance with Policies, Laws, or Standards: The tendency to avoid implementation of policies, laws, and standards by one level of Government.
- Increase in Debt and Corruption: Growing irregularities and corrupt activities due to lack of accountability.
- Mismatch in Political Philosophy: Discrepancies between the political philosophies of elected representatives.
- Internal conflicts and issues with basic operational tasks.
- Revenue Sharing and Fund Transfers: The process for revenue distribution and fund transfer between levels is not automated.
- Inter-Governmental revenue sharing needs better coordination.
Efforts to Make Inter-Governmental Relations Effective:
- Develop interdependent relationships between all three levels,
- Ensure effective coordination between areas of jurisdiction,
- Perform roles, duties, and responsibilities cooperatively,
- Each level should take and give responsibilities according to the constitution,
- Ensure balanced distribution and development of natural and economic resources,
- Ensure accountability at every Government level,
- Promote cooperation and coordination while making national and Provincial policies,
- Facilitate instead of controlling through policies,
- Manage responsibilities according to the principle of proximity,
- Share rights and responsibilities effectively,
- Clarify the role of District Coordination Committees,
- Adopt an integrated planning approach,
- Collaborate effectively in the implementation of policies, programs, and plans,
- End situations where influence, pressure, or dominance overrides the Federal system,
- Strengthen coordination mechanisms at the Local level,
- Establish quick grievance redressal and problem-solving systems.
Authored by Kumar Ghising researcher and public policy analyst.