DANG, Aug 7: Following the federal government's decision to restore salaries and benefits for personal aides of federal lawmakers, the Lumbini Provincial Government has also decided to reinstate the same facility for provincial assembly members.
If implemented, provincial lawmakers in Lumbini will once again be allowed to appoint personal aides, who will receive government-funded salaries and benefits.
Government spokesperson and Health Minister Ramji Prasad Ghimire said the provision will take effect from the current fiscal year, with benefits to be provided retroactively from mid-July.
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"The provincial law clearly allows lawmakers to appoint personal aides and provides for their salaries and benefits," Ghimire said. "The government will implement the law, and personal aides will begin receiving benefits from this month."
Provincial lawmakers' aides had previously received government benefits under provincial law. However, the Sushila Karki-led government formed after the Gen Z movement suspended the facility. Acting on that decision, the Ministry of Finance issued a circular instructing provincial governments to halt payments.
As a result, personal aides of provincial lawmakers did not receive any salaries or benefits during the last fiscal year.
Ghimire said aides who continued performing their duties without pay will now receive benefits from the beginning of the current fiscal year. Lawmakers who have not yet appointed personal aides will also be able to begin the appointment process through the Provincial Assembly Secretariat, with benefits starting from the date of appointment.
He said the provincial Cabinet will formally approve the decision.
Provincial Assembly Secretary Durlabh Kumar Pun also confirmed that provincial law explicitly authorizes lawmakers to appoint personal aides and entitles them to salaries and other benefits.
"The benefits were suspended only because of the federal government's circular issued by the interim administration," Pun said. "Once the provincial Cabinet endorses the decision, the provision will come back into effect."
The Lumbini Provincial Assembly has 83 members. The chief minister, eight ministers, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker continued receiving benefits for their personal aides even after the suspension. The restored provision will now extend the facility to the remaining provincial lawmakers.
