NA needs to strengthen its supervising role of Govt

The National Assembly needs to enhance its role in enacting the country’s laws and overseeing the performance of the government to push for greater national development.
NA members on Wednesday debated key matters on how to reinforce the role of the parliament following a report delivered by NA Vice President Ms Sisay Leudetmounsone at the ongoing session.
Ms Sisay highlighted accomplishments made by the NA so far this year and plans for the rest of the year.

Although the NA has approved more than 100 laws, it was essential to obtain input from relevant sectors and local people to make the laws more comprehensive and easier to enforce.  
NA member for Champassak province, Mr Meksavan Phomphithak said “Some of our approved laws are not comprehensive as we have had to amend them several times, particularly those in the financial sector.”
He said bills in the finance and economic sector required more input from entrepreneurs and experts in the field to avoid emerging problems during the implementation process.
He said petitions from citizens submitted to the NA had not been resolved as anticipated. The enforcement of laws related to bidding for development projects has not been done, resulting in overvalued projects.
NA member for Borikhamxay province, Mr Souvanny Xayana agreed that more opinions and information needed to be gathered to make bills clearer.
For example, the land law required more contributions from district officials and local people because they will be directly affected after the law goes into force.
Mr Souvanny called for government sectors to submit their reports to the NA weeks before the date of the debate so that members have more time to analyse the information. 
“We are sceptical about the figures given by the government sectors, particularly the data about dry-season rice production, tree plantations, investment, revenue amassment and expenditure. Different sectors report different figures, but we don’t have enough time to check the truth,” he said.
NA member for Xieng Khuang province, Mr Vilaysouk Phimmasone said many NA members had not fulfilled their obligations to meet local residents and collect their concerns to report to the NA.  
“There are six NA members for Xieng Khuang province. Of which one moved to be the provincial governor and another three are standing members of the provincial party committee, so I am the only one who performs the NA role,” he said.
Other NA members touched upon issues regarding the coordination between the government and the NA and the role of the NA to oversee the performance of the executive body, people’s court and prosecutor’s office.
In addition, they said the NA was a legislative body that plays an essential role in making decisions on the fundamental issues of the nation.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update June 13, 2019)