Governors from across the country will meet Tuesday in Pekanbaru, Riau, to discuss boosting their authority as provincial heads, Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi said Sunday.
Gamawan said his ministry was currently drafting a revision of the 2004 Regional Administration Law and a government regulation to boost governors' powers as representatives of the central government.
"The governors at the meeting will be asked for suggestions on increased powers," he said in Pekanbaru.
"Their input will be included in the draft law and the regulation. We hope to have the latter signed by the President next month."
The meeting will be opened by Vice President Boediono.
Gamawan said the regulation would also rule on governors' financial rights.
"It's aimed toward a more controlled, smoother administration," he said.
He added the regional administration law and the 2008 Regional Autonomy Law conferred limited power on governors.
"Almost all permits are handled at the regency and municipal levels," Gamawan said.
"The governor's role is limited to coordinating and supervising.
"There's no punishment for regents or mayors who disobey the governor," he went on.
"This is needed to guarantee the government's decision is accepted at the regency and municipal level."
Gamawan added the ministry had revoked several bylaws issued at these local levels.
"The governors in these cases had warned the regents and mayors, but they continued to issue controversial bylaws," he said.
During his 54 days in the job, Gamawan claimed to have revoked 206 local bylaws that went against higher regulations.
"If the regents and mayors continue to play up, I'll have to get the BPK *Supreme Audit Agency* to assess them," he said.
He added that on Monday, governors from across Sumatra would discuss several joint projects introduced over the past decade.
The projects include the Sumatra shipping line, power plants, railways and a joint promotion board.
"In the past, the different provinces agreed and contributed to the idea, so now we have to see just how viable the projects are," he said.
Home Ministry secretary Diah Anggraeni said only five governors from eastern Indonesia, including Papua, West Papua and East Nusa Tenggara, would not attend the meeting since they were preparing for Christmas festivities.
