Ngada Regent Revokes District Secretary Appointment Following Governor Meeting, Acknowledges Non-Compliance with Regulations
Ngada Regent Raymundus Bena has revoked the Decree (SK) appointing the District Secretary (Sekda) of Ngada Regency, Yohanes Capistrano Watu Ngebu, following a meeting with East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka.
The revocation was carried out because the installation of Ngada Regency’s District Secretary on 6 March 2026 did not meet the requirements stipulated in Government Regulation (PP) No. 11 of 2017, as amended by Government Regulation No. 17 of 2020 Article 127 paragraph 3, to ensure the legal certainty of the District Secretary’s status and governance operations.
According to a press statement from the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Leadership Administration Bureau, a consultation meeting agreed that the Ngada Regent should revoke Ngada Regent Decision No. 168/KEP/HK/2026 dated 6 March 2026 concerning the appointment to the Senior Executive Position of District Secretary of Ngada Regency for Yohanes Capistrano Watu Ngebu.
In response to this agreement, Regent Raymundus Bena revoked the District Secretary appointment through Decision No. 172/KEP/HK/2026 dated 16 March 2026.
According to the State Personnel Board (BKN) Head Official Letter No. 28338/R-AK.02.03/SD/F/2025 dated 25 November 2025, its validity had expired as of 2 March 2026. The Ngada Regent subsequently received an extension of the Official Letter from the BKN Head No. 13124/R-AK.02.03/SD/F/2026 dated 4 March 2026.
However, after receiving the extension official letter, the regent had not coordinated with the governor as required by Article 127 paragraph 3 of Government Regulation No. 11 of 2017 as amended by Government Regulation No. 17 of 2020.
The revocation also followed Ngada Regency Government meetings with the governor and the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government team on 11 and 13 March 2026.
Governor Laka’s Response
East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, also known as Melki Laka Lena, confirmed that meetings had been held and resulted in a decision from Regent Raymundus Bena regarding the revocation of the District Secretary appointment for Ngada Regency’s Yohanes Capistrano Watu Ngebu.
He also expressed appreciation for all parties who had supported the resolution of the District Secretary appointment controversy.
“Thank you to the Ngada Regional Government, Ngada Regional Representative Council and all relevant parties, including academics and media, who have discussed this controversy constructively,” Melki Laka Lena said in Kupang on Wednesday (18 March 2026).
The Golkar politician stressed that this issue can serve as a lesson for regional heads.
“This becomes a lesson going forward for all parties, so that they implement the government system based on rules and mechanisms whilst maintaining good communication among all parties and with the broader public,” he explained.