Big may be beautiful in many cases. But not so when it comes to good governance. Few doubt that our present bureaucracy is indeed bloated and must downsize in the larger public interest, accountability and efficiency.
It is public knowledge that the government and its army of affiliated bodies are the biggest consumers of the national budget. For years state and government institutions have dominated key aspects of economic, social and political life.
Meanwhile, parliamentary ratifications in the course of second, third and fourth five-year economic development plans for pushing privatization and downsizing state affairs show the legislature is cognizant of the ground realities and the crucial need to promote efficiency.
The Majlis ratifications have not been fully implemented and during the complicated executive phases of development plans the government has become bigger!
The bitter truth remains that whenever a big project is launched, a new government entity is ’created’ especially to handle, oversee or monitor the job. So, with the dozens of new development projects in a variety of areas emerging on a regular basis, one can imagine the size of the government and its payroll.
The repeated inability or unwillingness of the establishment in downsizing the government should be sought from two angles.
First, the visible aversion of successive governments to downsizing and their uninterrupted desire to dominate state affairs.
Second, the weak supervisory role of the legislature over its own laws and regulations.
In the quarter century after the 1979 Revolution, the Majlis has concentrated more on passing legislation and less on implementing the law as would otherwise be expected of it.
Parliament normally intensifies its supervision over the large number of executive organizations when the time comes for studying and passing the annual budget. The parliamentary supervision, which is a natural and key aspect of democratic rule, is at best irregular and unsystematic.
The Majlis and incumbent government have routinely underscored the need and necessity to promote justice across the country and at the same time make the executive branch efficient and accountable.
Almost 10 months into office President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has demonstrated that he remains true to his campaign promises.
Among the important measures of his government are deep cuts in current expenditures and lavish protocol costs, insisting on frugality in state visits and ceremonies, putting an end to unwanted, unhelpful and expensive local and international conferences, and visiting the provinces at regular intervals to assess the problems and needs firsthand.
So far the president and his aides seem dedicated to their work and in the process make the government more responsible for its decisions or the lack of it.
For the same reason it is important that a special office follow up the timely implementation of the Majlis ratifications and closely supervise the downsizing of government. Membered by the best minds of the land and with no political strings attached, this office report directly and at regular basis to the president.
For its part, the parliament apart from its regular supervision of the proper functioning of state affairs, should establish a special supervisory directorate. This body should monitor the implementation of laws and report its findings to speaker and relevant Majlis commissions.