Govt reviews appointments

National

By JEFFREY ELAPA
THE Government will review the appointments of three department secretaries to see if they were legal, Prime Minister James Marape says.
They are Finance secretary Dr Ken Ngangan, Treasury secretary Dairi Vele and National Planning secretary Korney Samuel.
Concern over the appointments was raised by Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu who pointed out that the Supreme Court had nullified the Ministerial Executive Appointment Committee which had appointed the three.
Numu said it was alleged during the Supplementary Budget debate that the numbers were cooked up by some heads of department.
Marape said the appointments of the three secretaries were done before he took office.
He has instructed his deputy, Justice Minister and Attorney-General Davis Steven, to find out if the appointments were legal.
He said all public service positions would be advertised so that qualified people could apply and appointed on merit.
Marape warned that any allegation of corruption against a public servant must be supported by evidence.
“Those with valid contracts will be respected and when expired, there will be no acting appointments,” he said.
“All vacancies will be advertised.
“If performances have not been good, then other qualified people can take their place.”
Marape said a new chairman of the National Procurement Commission would be named next month.
He said he could not terminate the employment of department heads if their contacts were in force.
He said the position of the Chief Secretary occupied by Isaac Lupari which will expire next January.
He has advised the Department of Personnel Management to advertise the position.