Everything falls back to accountability

THE partnership between the Department of Rural Development and Implement (DIRD) and the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance (PILAG) to provide training for public servants in the districts is long overdue.
The training is to train public servants to think critically and comprehend between what is right and wrong.
With K1.2 billion going into the districts and the provinces, it was important the public servants are prepared mentally to carry out their responsibilities well.
The government is not wrong in delivering the program to the subnational level but the implementers must be fully knowledgeable to deliver the programmes effectively.
While Waigani is driving the policy, the front liners are in the districts so they have to be equipped with skills and knowledge to rollout the project for the benefit of the people.
And everything falls back to accountability.
Accountability has a clear link to higher work performance, but experts indicate that it also results in improved competency and commitment to work, increased employee morale, and work satisfaction.
The Government in the last five years has disbursed a huge amount of money for the first time to the provinces and districts.
Unfortunately, there was inadequate capacity at the district level to manage large amounts of public funds allocated to the districts.
So with the training, building the capacity of the districts to implement the public funds allocated to them successfully is a bonus.
And at the end of the day, it was important that all the funds allocated were properly acquitted.
Under the District Development Authority structure, that responsibility belongs to the district administration to provide those acquittals as it is not the responsibility of the MPs.
The MPs are not responsible for compiling reports; these are the responsibilities of district administration.
They keep the paper work and make decisions and when they do not have them compiled then it reflects badly on leaders.
And that is why district and provincial treasury staff must perform their responsibility as committed and honest public servants.
They must know their role and not mix it with politics.
Hence it is important to hire public servants who are educated to a level where they are competent.
The reports were important as it will enable the department to check whether the public money is spent on the right areas as provided for under the guidelines.
It is important to tell the government how the money is spent and a lot of our people need to get into the habit of auditing of funds particularly public funds.
If you take responsibility for your own actions, you show accountability.
Public servants need to take ownership and lead in service delivery and the District Development Authority is the best possible opportunity to build our villagers and deliver services.
Acquitting a grant means accurately reporting on the funded activities and the expenditure of funding.
Grant reports – providing artistic and financial information – are required on completion of your project.
Acquittal is a formal condition of funding.
If you do not provide a satisfactory grant report at the times and in the manner detailed in your funding agreement the Government will not make any further payments that may be due to you, and you will be ineligible to apply for further grants.
A government has accountability for decisions and laws affecting its citizens; an individual has accountability for acts and behaviours.