PRIME Minister James Marape says performance was paramount in the running of his government as he continues to hold all his ministers accountable in the delivery of their ministerial duties.
He said all ministers have been issued with certain ‘Key Result Areas’ upon their swearing-in, and he continues to hold them to these tasks, while departmental heads come under the supervision of the Chief Secretary.
PM Marape made this known today in parliament today while responding to questions raised by Member for North Fly, Hon. James Donald.North-Fly MP asked the Prime Minister to clarify on the performances of Government Ministers, the review of these, and who was responsible for the reviews.
“Ministers present reports to Parliament; this is where the country holds to account the work of the executive government.
“Parliament ultimately holds us leaders to account for what we are doing,” PM said.
“For the Ministers, it is the Office of the Prime Minister, and for the departmental heads, the Chief Secretary is attending to them to make sure targets are met.
“These targets are not my own or Pangu-based but the collective aspirations of our people embodied when we formed government in the Loloata Camp.”
“For individual Members of Parliament and provincial governments, the annual requirement to furnish work reports, including financial reports, on how our districts and provinces are functioning is there for us to comply with.
“The Public Finance Management Act requires that 31st of March each year, all departments report on how they have been operating. The same Act also demands that reports come back to respective departments,” PM Marape clarified.
“For us operating the DSIP and the PSIP, or the provincial governments, you report back to the DIRD, while the Auditor General continues to have oversight on those reports.
“So the reporting mechanisms are in place for the executive government; the ministries are accountable to the Office of the Prime Minister; and the departmental heads are accountable to the Department of Prime Minister and NEC.
“We are reviewing the Key Performance Indicators as we go. Our ministers in Cabinet know exactly how we conduct Cabinet. I hold them to account and it is expected of them to step up in these areas.
“It is really about us getting to work. I want to inform all Members of Parliament and all governors that we will not cover up complacency amongst us, both at Cabinet and departmental head level,” said PM Marape.
The Prime Minister also revealed that the Government was mooting a policy to give out auditing of public funds to private audit firms to strengthen further the financial mechanisms of government.
