Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Secretary Philip Leo confirmed this when responding to questions from PNG Bulletin regarding outstanding payments for councillors, particularly those in Southern Highlands Province.
Leo said the process involved both newly elected and returning councillors and required individual leaders to provide all necessary documentation before their details could be submitted to the Department of Personnel Management (DPM) for uploading onto the Alesco payroll system.
“We are looking at almost 7,000 councillors, some newly elected and others returning. In order to upload them onto the Alesco system, we have to provide all necessary requirements,” Leo said.
He said his department was ensuring that all required information was properly completed before submissions were made to DPM for individual uploading and payroll configuration.
Leo said the exercise was significant and could not be completed overnight because thousands of individual records had to be verified, processed and configured correctly.
“It isn’t an easy task uploading and configuring almost 7,000 leaders. By September, all councillors should have been uploaded and be on the payroll receiving their payments,” he said.
He confirmed that leaders who have been waiting for their salaries would not lose their outstanding entitlements, saying payments would be backdated to November 2025 and settled accordingly.
Leo said a number of provinces and LLGs had already been successfully uploaded, with leaders now receiving their salaries.
These include Enga, Morobe, Manus, East New Britain, West New Britain and Central provinces, as well as Tabi Rural LLG in Hela, South Wiru Rural LLG in Southern Highlands, Kol and Koinambe LLGs in Jiwaka, Baimuru and Kotidanga LLGs in Gulf, South Angoram/Middle Sepik Rural LLG in East Sepik, and Mt Giluwe and Mul LLGs in Western Highlands.
He said the necessary PVAs had been completed and DPM was progressively uploading the remaining councillors’ information into the payroll system.
For Southern Highlands Province, Leo’s confirmation means the process has already commenced with South Wiru Rural LLG, while councillors from the remaining LLGs are expected to progressively enter the system as their documentation is processed.
Leo thanked ward members throughout the country for their patience and understanding while the government completes the major payroll exercise.
“I am very appreciative of the understanding and patience of our Ward Members,” he said.
The assurance provides a clearer timeframe for councillors who have been waiting for their payments, with the department targeting September 2026 for all eligible councillors to be uploaded onto the payroll system, while outstanding entitlements are expected to be honoured retrospectively from November 2025.