Ombudsman urges fundamental governance reforms at BGN and Immigration Ministry

The Indonesian Ombudsman (ORI) is urging fundamental improvements in public service governance and total administrative compliance within the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections (Kemenimipas). ORI member Nuzran Joher stated that the call responds to law enforcement actions related to corruption cases and leadership transitions in several strategic institutions. “Previously, the ORI submitted corrective actions and suggestions for improvement to the two agencies and continues to monitor the follow-up on their implementation,” Nuzran said when confirmed in Jakarta on Thursday. He emphasised that law enforcement measures by the Attorney General’s Office and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at both institutions must be used as a moment for total evaluation. Responding to issues circulating in the mass media regarding internal dynamics related to oversight of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, Nuzran affirmed that his institution’s oversight function is independent. He stressed that the ORI remains consistent in carrying out its substantive oversight function independently. In September 2025, the ORI submitted the results of a rapid assessment study on the governance of the MBG programme to the BGN. “Organisationally, the early detection and prevention function is running fully. We submitted the study containing potential maladministration findings to the previous BGN leadership,” he said. However, he noted regretfully that various suggestions for improving governance and mitigating conflicts of interest in procurement were not heeded optimally in the field. Regarding issues with residence permits for foreign nationals, he revealed that the system’s vulnerability in that sector is not new. Based on an Analysis Report on Citizenship Services, the ORI has detected systemic administrative gaps and issued study results and suggestions for improvement. The Ombudsman also highlighted one of the root problems of immigration services on the ground, namely the lack of complaint facilities and infrastructure for foreign nationals. He explained that this could potentially close off access for public oversight and open up space for intimidation, incompetent actions, and unofficial levies. Consequently, the ORI is urging Kemenimipas to provide open, accessible, and transparent complaint facilities for foreign nationals in all immigration offices across Indonesia. Nuzran stated that compliance with public service oversight is a key instrument to ensure that various state priority programmes run transparently and accountably. “The ORI will continue to carry out its legal mandate objectively and without compromise to ensure that bureaucratic reform and public services in Indonesia are clean from maladministration practices for the benefit of the wider community,” Nuzran revealed. In the near future, the Ombudsman will hold a face-to-face coordination meeting with the BGN to obtain updates on current governance developments, coordinate directly with the new leadership, and comprehensively map out various ORI suggestions for improvement that can be implemented according to a priority scale. To accelerate systemic improvements and ensure all national strategic agendas run well, the ORI advised President Prabowo Subianto to maximise the duties, powers, and functions of the Executive Office of the President (KSP). Based on its mandate, he continued, the KSP has a crucial function in controlling national priority programmes and managing strategic issues. Therefore, the Ombudsman suggested that the KSP could be optimised as a bridge to accelerate cross-sectoral coordination.