Court stays minister from sacking Unitech council

By NIDRA KEWERE MAPI
THE National Court has issued a restraining order against Research and Higher Education Minister Michael Ogio from gazetting the termination of the PNG University of Technology (Unitech) Council.
The order was issued by National Court judge Justice Les-Gavara Nanu yesterday.
The case stems from a decision made by Mr Ogio on Feb 8 to terminate the current Unitech council and make new appointments.
Unitech Chancellor Philip Stagg through his lawyer Ralph Saulep challenged Mr Ogio’s decision in court.
Mr Saulep in an urgent application before Justice Gavara-Nanu sought for the court to restrain Mr Ogio from basically going ahead with the termination and making new council appointments.
Mr Saulep stated that if Mr Ogio proceeded with the termination, it would cause a major disruption for the school year that would begin shortly.
The court granted in favour of his application and gave the order, restraining the minister from gazetting the termination and making new council appointments.
Mr Ogio had sent a notice on Feb 8 to the Unitech Council saying they would be terminated.
However, lawyer Ralph Saulep argued that Mr Ogio’s reasons were not valid and that he had no power as such under the Higher Education Act (1983) to make such decisions.
The case has been adjourned to March 8.