LUMBINI: The Provincial Affairs and Law Committee of the Lumbini Province Assembly has advised the province government not to implement the federal government’s directive to cut the remunerations and facilities of provincial assembly office-bearers and private secretaries.

The federal government had earlier instructed that the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Speaker, National Assembly Chairperson, provincial chiefs, and ministers could appoint only up to three secretariat members. Following this decision, remunerations and facilities for private secretaries in Lumbini Province have been suspended for the past two months.

In today’s meeting, the Committee decided to urge the federal government not to obstruct the provision of remunerations and facilities to provincial assembly office-bearers and private secretaries.

The decision came after the Committee reviewed a letter from the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers. Citing Article 187 of the Constitution, the Committee argued that the federal government should not interfere in the special rights and functions of the provincial assembly.