By DALCY LULUA
OPPOSITION Leader and Chuave MP James Nomane has raised concerns over the Government’s decision to suspend more than 70 heads of government agencies without first putting acting arrangements in place, warning the move could disrupt public services and weaken institutional stability.
Nomane said while the Government had the authority to enforce accountability measures, the lack of immediate leadership replacements showed poor planning and coordination.
He said removing senior officials without appointing lawful acting heads had left critical government institutions exposed to uncertainty.
“Time is the scarcest resource; unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed,” Nomane said.
“Every day an agency drifts without an accountable head is a day of lost budget execution, stalled procurement, and unanswered public need in every province.”
The Opposition Leader said hospitals, universities, security agencies, provincial administrations, and State-owned enterprises could face operational challenges if leadership vacancies continued.
He said the timing of the suspensions was concerning, with Papua New Guinea preparing for a general election, working to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, and managing a K66 billion national debt.
Nomane said the Government was right to demand accountability from public institutions, particularly regarding statutory annual reporting requirements.
“The Opposition concedes the principle. Statutory annual reporting is a legal obligation, and a Government that enforces it acts squarely within its mandate,” he said.
However, he stressed that disciplinary action must be carried out within the law and follow proper procedures under the Public Services (Management) Act.
He warned that a legitimate objective could still produce negative consequences if implemented without proper succession planning.
“Accountability without management is theatre,” he said.
Meanwhile, questions remain over lists circulating publicly that allegedly contain the names of agency heads facing suspension. The Prime Minister’s and the Chief Secretary Offices are yet to confirmed whether those lists are genuine.
The concerns follow External Circular No. 35/2026 issued by Chief Secretary Ivan Pomaleu on July 28, which reportedly stated that no nominations for acting heads had been received despite an earlier directive from the Prime Minister’s Office on July 22 requesting nominations.
The Opposition has called for clarity from the Government, saying the public needs assurance that essential services will continue without disruption while accountability measures are carried out.