OHE staff locked out

By DULCIE OREKE
MORE than 14,000 Grade 12 and 10,000 TESAS students’ selections are in jeopardy after personnel from the Office of Higher Education (OHE) got locked out of their office for non-payment of bills. 
More than 50 officers from OHE gathered at the building’s front car park yesterday where they were addressed by the director general Dr William Tagis.
Tagis said officers from the named company had locked their doors at about 5.30pm on Tuesday when the last few staff left after the day’s work.
It was alleged that the lock-up notice issued to OHE last month was delivered to the department of finance during that same month as well.
The official said the department of treasury was alerted on Monday where a staff indicated it was working to process payment when the matter was brought to their attention.
“OHE, in the mean time, is awaiting ‘confirmation’ from the department on what action to take next,” the official said. 
“With no response coming from the department by noon, staff were advised to return to their homes,” Tagis said.
He said there had been “no point for them to be waiting about”.
He indicated that the situation was very disappointing, however, adding that he understood that it would take various processes before the funds were available.
He also highlighted that he might have not received any update from the department as he was also attending the launch of the Port Moresby Construction Training facility.
Tagis was unable to disclose the amount owed to the company.