Due process followed, says Numu

The National National

By ZACHERY PER
THE Finance Department has followed due process to appoint an acting provincial finance manager for Eastern Highlands, Governor Peter Numu says.
He said the appointment of Simon Tomba was made by Finance secretary Dr Ken Ngangan on April 28, by virtue of powers enabling him under Public Finance Management Act Section 8 (b) Sub-section 11 (2) of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments.
He made the clarification in response to a statement by Henganofi MP Robert Atiyafa yesterday which alleged that he had made the appointment.
Numu said Dr Ngangan and the Finance Department responded to his request to fill a vacancy left by former provincial finance manager Villo Wortovo, who had passed away, and appointed Tomba.
He said the urgency of situations such as the coronavirus-enforced state of emergency and lockdown required the position to be occupied with immediate effect to administer funds to run the Covid-19 protection measures and other urgent Government business.
Numu said he did not personally know Tomba, a Southern Highlander, and his appointment as acting provincial finance manager had followed due process.
He said under the set guidelines and laws, the Eastern Highlands government could not just appoint anyone to process claims and administer funds as this was illegal.
Numu welcomed Tomba to his new post on Monday on behalf of the provincial executive council (PEC).
He called for individuals to stop “petty politics” and to “respect the decisions of those in authority”.
He urged public servants and members of the PEC to work with Tomba to ensure services and Government programmes were delivered to the province’s 800,000 people.
Numu described as a “colonial mentality” the practice of having only Eastern Highlanders in positions of authority in the administration and called on the people to be more open in accepting professionals and public servants regardless of where they come from.
“I want the people of Eastern Highlands to show the country that they can accept people from other provinces who are highly qualified to serve in this province,” he said.
“I am not for provincialism or regionalism, I want qualified people suited for the job, regardless from where they come from.”

3 comments

  • Look first within and identify possible candidates before looking out. An appointment is not made out of the blue. It does come out from a recommendation. There are capable EHPans for this job. Your are not looking for a rocket scientist or a PhD holder for this job. The are a lot of EHPans with masters level degrees capable for this job. Just a thought.

  • EHPG Governor did look within your before looking elsewhere.? Don’t tell us Eastern Highlanders that you are just playing your little dirty politics.

  • I totally concur with what the Governor of EHP said.
    Be open minded. Those who have the credentials and experience should be given every opportunity, regardless of their ethnicity , or background.
    From my own opinion and observation, there is alot of politics involved in appointment of respective individuals vying for top positions in in any given government organization, institution or departments.
    Corruption is deeply rooted into the core fabric of this society. There are no moral absolutes or standards. Everything is now relative based on an individuals opinion, ideaology or beliefs.
    Honesty, Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance should be the core fabric of this society. An individual, institution and etc, who adapt these core values will never go wrong. Otherwise, we will be recycling the same old, same old without much changes..!!!

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