By JOEL K ANDREW
MINISTER for the newly-created Ministry of Administrative Services Richard Masere has clarified the ministry’s role during a meeting in Port Moresby today.
He said the ministry’s role is to provide leadership and direction to several key government institutions, including some of the constitutional offices that report direct to the Prime Minister.
Masere said these agencies include the National Statistics Office (which was previously under the Department of National Planning), the National Identification Registry (previously under the Ministry of Internal Security), Ombudsman Commission, Independent Coalition Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Electoral Commission.
“The role of my office is to provide a voice on the political front for these important government constitutional offices and agencies,” Masere said.
He said the ministry’s primary role is to collate demographic information for the country, with its first objective being the delivery of the National Census, which is behind schedule as it was last conducted in 2011.
“The target now is to deliver a quality national census by the end of 2024,” Masere said.
“Our objective is to make sure that once the National Census is complete, a quality and accurate Common Role before elections in 2027 is delivered.”
He said the Prime Minister foresaw the importance of merging all these key important agencies to come under the new ministry.
Masere said the ministry would support the Ombudsman Commission and ICAC in their work.
“My role as the minister is to ensure that if there is any political representations to bring about constitutional changes or amendments, I will be the medium to take them before the National Executive Council and Parliament,” he said.
Masere assured the Ombudsman Commission that the ministry would not compromise or influence the latter’s administrative functions, responsibilities and roles.
He said the commission will continue to as per its mandate as an independent agency without any political interference.
