Housing to be paid K36m in instalments: Minister

THE Government will pay the National Housing Corporation the K36 million it is holding on behalf of housing tenants, Housing Minister Paul Isikeil says.
But he said it would be paid in instalments rather than as a lump sum.
The money was deducted from the salaries of public servants who are renting homes owned by the NHC.
Isikiel said Cabinet had approved that the K36 million be paid over a period. It is with the Department of Finance.
He told reporters in Port Moresby yesterday that he and NHC managing director John Dege were doing all they could to address issues facing NHC.
Dege said he had 4006 files of tenants awaiting the processing of housing titles, some for more than 30 years.
“There was a joint audit carried out by the Department of Finance, Attorney-General and NHC. They all have agreed that the Department of Finance owes NHC K36 million,” Dege said.
“Year after year, that matter has been raised with NEC directly resulting in many consultants hired to recover the wrong code deductions with the Department of Finance.”
Dege said the NHC last year filed a court case against the Finance Department to recoup the K36 million. But lawyers agreed to have the matter settled out of court.