By DALCY LULUA
OPPOSITION Leader James Nomane has called on the Prime Minister to reduce the size of the National Executive Council, arguing that the current Cabinet of 39 ministers is too large and ineffective.
Speaking in Parliament, Nomane said the country expected ministers to actively implement government policies and deliver tangible results for the people of Papua New Guinea.
He cited the recent mini cabinet reshuffle as an example, noting the appointment of Sir John Pundari as the new Minister for Police and the reassignment of the former police minister to the Works and Highways portfolio.
Nomane said the new police minister had quickly taken steps to address key issues such as illegal gun proliferation and ongoing tribal conflicts in Enga Province.
He also acknowledged the new Works and Highways Minister for outlining what the public could expect within his first 100 days in office.
However, Nomane questioned the performance of the remaining ministers in Cabinet.
“With 39 ministers in Cabinet, that’s equivalent to three rugby teams. They should be scoring tries after tries for the people
of Papua New Guinea, yet many appear to be asleep,” he said.
Nomane claimed that in Parliament it was often the Prime Minister who responded to questions and defended government policies, while other ministers remained largely silent.
He urged the Prime Minister to consider reducing the Cabinet to around 20 ministers to create a leaner and more effective executive capable of delivering results.
In response, Prime Minister James Marape said all ministers were working to the best of their abilities and encouraged members of Parliament to direct questions to the relevant ministers responsible for specific portfolios.
He said ministers were currently reviewing their work and performance as part of the government’s broader effort to improve service delivery.
Marape said departmental heads had been instructed to submit reports by March 31 outlining their performance over the past year.
He added that the government was considering reforms to strengthen the authority of the Chief Secretary, including granting the power to dismiss departmental heads who failed to meet reporting requirements or perform their duties.
“Sometimes ministers get the blame for what is not happening on the ground,” Marape said.
He explained that the reforms were intended to create
clearer accountability within government agencies while maintaining an arm’s-length relationship between ministers and departmental heads.
The Prime Minister also revealed that the government was reviewing the structure of key central agencies, including Treasury, Finance and National Planning, to improve coordination and efficiency in government operations.
Marape assured Parliament that the government was actively assessing its performance and making adjustments to ensure better delivery of services to the people.
He said the ongoing review aimed to create a more effective central government structure that would serve the country well into the future.