Ombudsman Supports Appreciation for Outstanding Regional Heads

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia supports the provision of appreciation to outstanding regional heads in the National Governance Award 2026, held in Jakarta on Friday (24/4). As one of the jury members, Ombudsman member Robert Na Endi Jaweng extended congratulations to the elected governors, regents, and mayors for their dedication and innovations. “The judging process also aims to examine the regional development system from the input stage, process, results (output), outcomes, to impacts,” Robert stated on that occasion, as confirmed in Jakarta on Tuesday. He revealed that the award ceremony serves as a forum for reflection on the journey of decentralisation in Indonesia. Furthermore, according to him, the event also ensures that leadership at the provincial, city, and regency levels operates transparently. The National Governance Awards 2026 is a prestigious award event organised by one of the television stations to appreciate regional heads (provinces, regencies, cities) who have successfully innovated in government governance, public services, and development. The awards emphasise national synergy, digital innovation, and improvements in public services, particularly at the regional level. The event is part of the 30th anniversary of Regional Autonomy Day. Together with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ombudsman, and academics, the National Governance Awards has identified exemplary regional heads in sectors such as government governance, economic growth, education, and health at the provincial to regency/city levels. Some of the award recipients include the Governor of Riau Islands Ansar Ahmad, Regent of Sragen Sigit Pamungkas, and Mayor of Kupang Christian Widodo. High-ranking state officials were present to present the awards at the event, including the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of State Apparatus Utilisation and Bureaucratic Reform, the Minister of Villages and Underdeveloped Regions Development, the Minister of Cooperatives, and the Head of the National Nutrition Agency.