Appointment not proper, worker says

 By GABRIEL  FITO

EAST Sepik acting provincial administrator Richard Kombo says he will remain in office until proper processes are followed in ejecting him and subsequently appointing a new provincial administrator.

Speaking from his office in Wewak yesterday, Kombo said due processes as stipulated under section 60 (A) (B) of the Public Service Management Act which require  a provincial executive council (PEC) resolution to the Public Service Commission to effect such appointment was not reached.

He was reacting to recent media reports of a new appointment to the provincial administrator’s job last week.

“I was never issued a notice from the governor’s office of this new appointment. I only learned of this in the media so I am still in the office,” he said.

“There was no PEC resolution on the appointment of a new provincial administrator. 

“This resolution is the catalyst for the Public Service Minister to sign gazettal instruments. Therefore the gazettal notice dated Oct 28, 2013 is deemed illegal and was derived under highly suspicious circumstances.

“I have sought legal opinion and was advised to stay in the office until due processes are followed in the appointment of a provincial administrator,” Kombo said.

Kombo said until that was done he was happy to hand over the reign to his successor in the presence of the Governor Sir Michael Somare and not when he was out of the province.

He appealed to all public servants not to take this opportunity to walk out of their jobs but attend to their duties to ensure that services continue to flow to the people.

“Any infighting in the management often results in officers disintegrating and services not flowing,” Kombo said.

“That’s something l’d like to avoid at all cost and urge all public servants to continue work, as I am still in control and would come down hard on those who take this opportunity to go on holidays.”

Turubu LLG president David Kausik also criticised the appointment of the new administrator saying it failed to get the endorsement of the PEC members.