This will be a historic step, although not a new initiative, and the first restructuring. However, given the nature, requirements, scale, and timing, the completion of this revolution’s mission is essential for the entire political system, from Party agencies, the National Assembly, the Fatherland Front and its member organizations, to the Government and the apparatus of Ministries and sectors, to transform and restructure in terms of organization, functions, and human resources.
Ensuring a scientific, rigorous, and transparent operating system, this move will propel the country’s development into a new era.
 General Secretary To Lam, Head of the Central Steering Committee for the implementation of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW, chaired the Committee’s first meeting. Photo: VNA
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It is worth recalling that during the 9th term (1992-1997), the Government consisted of 36 ministries and sectors. In the 10th term (1997-2002), this number increased to 48 entities. The 11th term (2002-2007) witnessed a slight decrease to 38 entities, including 26 ministries and ministerial-level agencies and 12 Government agencies.
In the 12th term (2007-2011), a significant restructuring effort reduced the Government apparatus to 30 entities, comprising 22 ministries and ministerial-level agencies and 8 Government agencies.
The merger and reorganization of ministries and sectors in mid-2007 led to the formation of a multi-sectoral, multi-domain Government apparatus, which has been maintained to the present with 30 entities, including 18 ministries, 4 ministerial-level agencies, and 8 Government agencies.
In the final year of the 2020-2025 term, the recent suggestions and orientations provided by the Central Organization Commission indicated a comprehensive transformation, profoundly impacting the nature, capacity, and effectiveness of the apparatus and its constituent parts, including, of course, the civil servants who operate within this system.
As the implementation of Resolution 18 starts from the Central level, this is also the “golden time” for local authorities to observe, monitor, and grasp the direction, especially any issues that may arise, so that they can work together to address them.
Based on the strict adherence to the principle of “one agency performing multiple tasks” and “one task assigned to one agency as the main responsible entity,” it is crucial to completely overcome the overlap of functions and tasks and the division of regions and fields. Resolving this “bottleneck of bottlenecks” by clearly defining them through a robust legal system and strict enforcement will be a sufficient condition for unblocking social resources, with businesses and people being the direct beneficiaries.
Reforming the organizational structure must be accompanied by a thorough understanding and effective implementation of the guidelines on renewing the leadership method, enhancing the leadership and ruling capacity of the Party, substantially delegating powers to local authorities, combating wastefulness, national digital transformation, and socializing public services. It should also be linked to restructuring and improving the quality of the team of officials, civil servants, and public employees to ensure their morality, capacity, and competence to meet the requirements of the new period. The new apparatus must be better than the old one and should start operating immediately, without interrupting work, leaving temporal or spatial gaps, or affecting the normal activities of society and the people.
Thus, the goal of this revolution is to serve effectively, operate at high efficiency, and achieve significant results, with the central focus being the people and businesses.
When the administrative and public service apparatus is no longer cumbersome and overlapping, causing difficulties for the people and businesses, the labor and creativity of individual entrepreneurs and business collectives will flow smoothly, transparently, and fairly. Consequently, the taxes they contribute to sustaining the State apparatus will be proven to be conscientious, reasonable, and worthy, leading to the reinforcement and enhancement of social consensus and trust.
In the trend of multi-dimensional impacts, this will also serve as an effective filter for the education system, career orientation, and the labor market. There will undoubtedly be choices about what to study, the quality of education, and the goals of studying a particular field or profession to meet social needs, including employment in the public sector, which will be perceived more accurately and practically.
Of course, everything is still ahead. As General Secretary To Lam stated, we need a “version” of the apparatus reform that is substantive, effective, and potent. Ultimately, it is a measure of the superiority of a political system and a state with good, transparent, and effective governance capacity.
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