Observer: Regional Head Pay Rise Must Be Performance-Based

A public policy observer from Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed) in Purwokerto, Tobirin, has stated that the proposed increase in financial entitlements for regional heads must be accompanied by clear, measurable performance indicators, transparency, and a strong oversight mechanism to genuinely benefit the public.

“Improving the welfare of regional heads can serve as a motivator for better performance,” said Tobirin, who is also the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at the university’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, on Tuesday afternoon. “However, this policy must be paired with clear performance metrics, public transparency, and a firm system of rewards and sanctions.”

He noted that the public currently lacks adequate information regarding the performance indicators used to assess the success of regional heads. “There should not only be an increase in financial entitlements, but the key performance indicators must also be made public so that the resulting achievements can be measured,” he asserted.

Tobirin explained that while enhancing the financial rights of regional heads could theoretically boost motivation and performance, the policy requires a clear regulatory foundation to ensure it is genuinely oriented towards improving the quality of public services.

On the issue of corruption prevention, he assessed that increasing the welfare of regional heads would not automatically eliminate corrupt practices, as the problem is also influenced by the mentality of the officials. “Beyond the mentality factor, the high political costs involved in the regional head election process are also an issue that needs to be addressed,” he said.

He observed that the position of regional head, as a political office, is vulnerable to various political compromises that require significant expenditure. Therefore, he stressed that governance reform must be carried out comprehensively, from drafting clear regulations and implementing transparent performance indicators to overhauling the high-cost political system.

“As long as political costs remain high, an increase in the financial entitlements of regional heads will not be directly proportional to a decrease in corruption. What must be fixed are the regulations, performance transparency, the mentality of officials, and the political system itself,” Tobirin concluded.