Dept starts audit to check public servants employed, on payroll

By HELEN TARAWA
THE Department of Personnel Management has started an audit into government departments, provincial administrations and statutory organisations to confirm the number of public servants employed and on the payroll.
Public Service Minister Westly Nukundj told The National that the first to be audited were Works Department, the Hela provincial government, Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority and National Agriculture Quarantine Authority (NAQIA).
“We are going out to the individual departments, state-owned entities and provincial governments to have face to face conference and do audits,” Nukundj said.
“I signed off letters to the first four places that we want to audit. We are going out there to check the staff strength, whether they are working.
“We really want to know what entitlements they are waiting for. I have issued instructions for that information to be given to me.
“If the department has paid out all their entitlements, leave, recreational leave and necessary entitlements then the department is done with the staff.”