NHC under probe

By MALUM NALU
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill wants an investigation conducted into the National Housing Corporation following concerns raised on how it is being run and managed.
“I will immediately get our officials to conduct a thorough investigation into the conduct of the management of National Housing Corporation,” O’Neill said.
Usino-Bundi MP Anton Yagama queried in Parliament yesterday what had been done to address the acute need for housing by Papua New Guinean people.
O’Neill said he would present a report on the investigation into NHC in the next sitting of Parliament.
The NHC was set up by an act of Parliament “to improve housing conditions and provide adequate and suitable housing for letting to eligible persons”. Many civil servants live in NHC properties.
O’Neill told Parliament yesterday that he had also been hearing “stories” from around the country of people paying large sums of money to the NHC.
“Housing Corporation is becoming a business. It is not supposed to be a business. It is supposed to be providing affordable housing to Papua New Guineans,” he said.
“I know that many of the houses built and owned by housing corporation have no proper titles. In fact, they were given certificates of occupancy. Unfortunately, the titles were not made available.”
O’Neill admitted that the NHC was “becoming a concern” and had been “for many, many years”.
“We thought that it will improve. But it is becoming worse from the reports that we are getting. And it is quite disappointing,” he said.
Yagama said in 2013, the NHC threatened to take over the Madang governor’s residence if K1.9 million was not paid.
He said the money was subsequently paid but the title was not given.
“How can a State institution threaten another State institution for K1.9 million?” Yagama said.
He said many people in the country had paid a lot of money to buy NHC properties but had not received titles.
“When will these titles be given?” Yagama said.
He said people were also being forcefully evicted from NHC properties which were the given to foreigners.
“Why are Papua New Guineans evicting Papua New Guineans from National Housing Corporation houses?” Yagama said.