การทับซ้อนของอำนาจหน้าที่และพื้นที่ในการบริหารจัดการเมืองของอำเภอเมืองลำปาง

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the power and roles of various government organizations, the overlapping of authorities, responsibilities, and organizations’ management, as well as the impacts and the solution. The study focuses on Mueang Lampang District, Lampang Province, within the jurisdiction of Lampang Municipality and Kelang Nakhon Municipality. The data were collected through interviews with administrative leaders of Lampang Municipality, Kelang Nakhon Municipality, the central government Office of Primary Education Area 1 in Lampang, the Lampang Public Health Regional Office, the Lampang Electricity Authorities, and the Lampang Waterworks Authorities, and data collection from 30 local residents within Lampang Municipality and Kelang Nakhon Municipality. The study found that the overlapping of authorities, roles, and government management in Mueang Lampang District, Lampang Province, within Lampang Municipality and Kelang Nakhon Municipality, can be divided into three categories: central government versus local government, regional government versus local government, and state-owned enterprises versus local government. According to the research, there are three reasons for the overlapping. Firstly, the government has not truly decentralized power; each agency has its own authority, responsibilities, and roles according to regulations and laws for providing similar public services. Secondly, political instability has led to frequent changes in the government, also causing frequent policy changes, confusing the public about the roles and responsibilities of different agencies, for example, central government administration versus local government administration case, regional government versus local government administration case, and state enterprises versus local government issue. Lastly, the majority of the population in Lampang lacks knowledge of political education and local governance. As a result, people are not clear about which government agencies are responsible for specific duties, while the government agencies themselves have not addressed these issues. The outcome of the policy of decentralization and transfer of duties to local administrative organizations, which has mainly been minimal, has allowed the central and regional government offices close and strong control over local government units. The latter, as a result, up until the present is still far from holding autonomy in performing their local work and services to their full potential. The solution is to improve and amend the laws of the central and regional governments, clearly delegate authority and responsibilities to local government officials to avoid duplication, whether it is in the areas of management, personnel administration, or budgeting. The solution will allow the public to recognize the roles and responsibilities of local government officials in the area. The central and regional governments should focus on supervising, overseeing, and supporting local governments as the main role, while promoting citizen participation in self-governance, for example, working together to establish regulations and laws, conducting work inspections, and cooperatively evaluating the performances of the local administrative organization, leading to a comprehensive and highly efficient local governance.