Ngada Regent Appoints Sekda Without Governor’s Permission, Faces Possible Report

Ngada Regent Raymundus Bena appointed Yohanes Capistrano Watu Ngebu as Secretary to the Regional Government (Sekda) of Ngada Regency on Friday, 6 March 2026. The appointment was deemed a violation because it did not obtain approval from the Governor of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) as the representative of the central government in the region. Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena explained through the Head of the NTT Regional Civil Service Agency (BKD) Yosef Rasi that the governor has the authority to guide and supervise regents or mayors in the administration of regional government. This authority is stipulated in Article 91 of Law Number 23 of 2014 on Local Government. “In carrying out guidance and supervision over affairs of government that fall within the authority of the regency or city, and the functions of assistance by the regency/city, the president is assisted by the governor as a representative of the central government in the region,” Yosef wrote in a press release received by detikBali on Saturday, 7 March 2026. According to Yosef, Raymundus Bena’s action in appointing the Ngada Sekda without the governor’s written consent contravenes Government Regulation No. 33 of 2018 Article 1 paragraph (1). The regulation states that the president, assisted by the governor as the central government’s representative in implementing guidance and supervision over the administration of local government at regency or city level. In addition, paragraph (2) provides that the governor has the duty to coordinate the guidance and supervision of the performance of delegated tasks in the regencies and cities. “The governor also monitors, evaluates and supervises the administration of government at the regional level,” he added. Yosef assessed that the 6 March 2026 appointment of Yohanes Capistrano Watu Ngebu as Ngada Sekda could be considered invalid for not complying with the applicable procedures. “Therefore, the governor orders the Ngada regent to rescind Ngada Regent’s Decree No. 168/Kep/HK/2026 dated 6 March 2026, on the appointment of a civil servant to the position of Primary High Official Sekda for Ngada Regency, no later than seven days from the receipt of the letter we have sent,” he stated. Yosef emphasised that if the order is not complied with, the governor will refer to the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) for the temporary dismissal of Raymundus Bena from the post of Ngada Regent. “If it is not observed, then the governor, as the central government’s representative in the region, may recommend to the Minister of Home Affairs to temporarily suspend the Ngada Regent from his post,” he said. Yosef explained that as the central government’s representative in the region, the governor also has duties in administering the government as regulated in Article 52(b) of Law No. 30 of 2014 on Administrative Government. The regulation states that one of the valid conditions for a Government Administration Decision (KTUN) is that it must be in accordance with applicable procedures. “A violation of these provisions renders the decision invalid and it must be cancelled. The legal consequences of an invalid KTUN include legal uncertainty, potential repayment of financial rights already received, and legal risks for the maker of the KTUN,” Yosef said. He added that the governor, in his capacity as a government official, is entitled to issue written decisions using his authority to make decisions and/or take actions as regulated in Article 6(2)(c) of Law No. 30 of 2014 on Administrative Government. According to Yosef, these provisions conflict with the Ngada Regent’s action of appointing Yohanes Capistrano Watu Ngebu as Sekda without written consent from the governor. “In fact, the regent acted in appointing the Sekda contrary to the governor’s rejection of the request for permission to appoint, as stated in Governor’s letter No. 800/61/BKD.3.2 dated 27 Feb ’26, regarding the rejection of nomination of one name and the re-nomination of three names for the Ngada Regency Sekda,” Yosef concluded.