NSO shuts office after clash with staff

THE National Statistical Office (NSO) was forced to close as supporters of chief statistician John Igitoi and court-reinstated officers clashed yesterday morning.
Four people were wounded in the confrontation that saw Igitois’ supporters try to stop the reinstated officers from entering the office premises.
Igitoi alleged that suspended NSO officers Bernard Kiele, Eric Adam and three others stormed the office yesterday morning and assaulted, intimated and threatened his officers.
He said he had directed the NSO staff to stop work and close the office as a safety precaution.
Kiele, who is the deputy national statistician and Census 2020 director, corporate services manager Adam and three others plus 70 casual employees were suspended from work.
The matter was taken to court and on Friday the court ordered the public servants back to work and ordered them to resolve the matter internally as it was an administrative issue.
Kiele and Adam said they were attempting to enter the office gate but were stopped by security guards.
An argument ensued and Igitoi’s supporters attacked them.
They said one of the suspended officers was slashed on the head with a bush knife while another two received arrow wounds – all were admitted to the Port Moresby General Hospital.
Security guards declined to comment but a staff on site said police arrived promptly and brought the situation under control.
Another staff, who did not want to be named, said it was a bad trend for armed relatives of senior officers to be involved in administrative disputes.
Attempts to contact NCD Met Supt Perou N’dranou were unsuccessful but acting assistant commissioner Chief Supt Anthony Wagambie Junior said he was informed of the incident but was on official duty at Kwikila in Rigo, Central, at the time.
Boroko Police Station commander Chief Insp James Wafihuambu said he was aware of a commotion at the NSO but referred all queries to Met Supt N’dranou’s office.