Ombudsmen seek the power to discipline state agencies
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THE Ombudsmen asked the new charter drafters Friday to give their office the capacity to discipline state agencies that fail to act in accordance with suggestions within 90 days, in the same way as when they violate a Cabinet resolution.
The request came after the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) invited the Ombudsmen on how to enhance the performance of their office in investigating complaints about poor or improper administration by public authorities.
The Ombudsmen – there are three – proposed six major points they would like to see in the new constitution to help facilitate their duties being fulfilled. Most share the same bottom line – that the Ombudsmen should have the same powers granted to their office by the 2007 Constitution, if not more.
And like other independent agencies that have met the drafters over the past week, the Ombudsmen requested that some percentage of the national budget be allocated directly to their office so that its independence could be secured.
