TULUNGAGUNG – Tulungagung regional budget management faces sharp criticism from student groups. They say weak oversight and poor bureaucracy could create space for corruption in local government.
The concern came from Roqi Wildana Al Jauhar, Student President of UIN SATU Tulungagung. He shared the findings after the student body completed an internal review.
According to Roqi, repeated corruption cases involving regional leaders should become a serious warning for local supervision and budget governance.
He questioned how similar cases could happen again. More than one regional head in Tulungagung has faced investigations by Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
“We have studied this issue. This is the second time a regional leader in Tulungagung has been linked to a KPK case. The question is, how can this happen again? Is the legislative oversight function not working effectively?” he said.
Moreover, Roqi highlighted the broad authority of regional leaders in deciding budget policies across local government agencies, known as OPD.
He said weak control systems could open opportunities for misuse of public funds. He urged stronger supervision so budget decisions would not move without proper checks.
Muhammad Ahsanur Rizqi, chairman of PC PMII Tulungagung, shared a similar concern. He criticized the condition of bureaucracy inside the local administration.
He pointed to problems in managing civil servant human resources, especially in the Regional Personnel and Human Resources Development Agency (BKPSDM).
According to Rizqi, competency standards for civil servants (ASN) must remain the main priority in job placements and promotions.
He warned against appointments based on personal or political interests. He said such practices could damage professionalism inside the bureaucracy.
“Job placement must be based on competence. There should be no practices that harm the professionalism of civil servants,” he stressed.
As a result, student groups now urge wider reforms in bureaucratic governance. They also ask for greater transparency in transfers and promotions inside the government system.
They believe these steps are important to protect institutional integrity and improve public services in Tulungagung Regency.