The government, it seems, is all set to give Sushil Gyewali,  chief executive officer of the National Reconstruction Authority, the boot, as it has decided to seek further clarification from him. 

A Cabinet meeting on Thursday concluded that the clarification submitted by Gyewali on Wednesday was not satisfactory. 

Dinesh Thapaliya, secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), said that he had already drafted a letter to be sent to Gyewali to furnish “factual and credible reasons why he should not be relieved of his duties”. Thursday’s Cabinet meeting had directed Thapaliya to seek clarifications from Gyewali within 24 hours. Gyewali, however, said he discharged his regular duties on Thursday and that he had not received any letter from the government till 5pm. Gyewali, hence, is likely to receive the letter on Friday as soon as the offices open, which will mean he will have till Sunday to submit his clarification. 

Thursday’s Cabinet meeting had entrusted Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal with the task of taking the final call regarding CEO Gyewali. 

Stating that the Cabinet had not decided to sack Gyewali, PMO sources said, “The decision to seek fresh clarification from Gyewali was taken as per the instructions from the PM.”

Gyewali was appointed by the erstwhile KP Sharma Oli-led government. 

Earlier, the government on December 29 had sought clarification from Gyewali for the delay in reconstruction work and his “lackadaisical performance”. The government had raised four issues: his failure to coordinate with government agencies for effective reconstruction work, inability to mobilise staff efficiently, lack of implementation of instructions given by the NRA Directive Committee and delay in issuing housing grants to the homeless families.

In his clarification sent to the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday, Gyewali had hit back at the government agencies, blaming them for non-cooperation. Claiming that he was performing his duties within the given jurisdiction, he had also questioned government’s move of seeking clarification and said that the NRA’s Directive Committee chaired by PM Dahal in October had found the NRA’s performance satisfactory. 

As per the NRA Act, the term of the CEO has been set for five years and the government can extend the term for another one year. But the government can remove him/her from duties anytime if performance is not found satisfactory, but s/he should be given an opportunity for clarification, the Act states.

PM Dahal also consulted Attorney General Raman Kumar Shrestha on Thursday and discussed matters related to Gyewali. Shrestha is learnt to have suggested that the person in question must be given ample opportunity to clarify his/ her position before initiating any action. 

Oli defends the man he had appointed

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli on Thursday claimed that there was no legal basis to remove National Reconstruction Authority Chief Executive Officer Sushil Gyewali from his post. Then Oli government in December 2015 had appointed Gyewali as the NRA CEO. During a press meet at the UML headquarters in Dhumbarahi, Oli stood in defence of Gyewali, saying his performance “has been hailed by donors”. “The government refused to provide budget and human resources to ensure that he fails to deliver,” Oli said.