21 officers from the Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs (DPLGA) have graduated from a public service training program at SILAG with eleven (11) officers from across provinces signing Senior Management Contracts and an Oath of Loyalty as part of a renewed commitment to accountability, transparency and integrity in the public service.
The ceremony was held on Friday at the Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance (SILAG) following the completion of a one-week National Certificate 2 in Government (Public Service Induction) training program.
Speaking at the event, SILAG Executive Director for Corporate Services Allan Kamale highlighted the institute’s role in building the capacity of public servants throughout the country.
“SILAG is the school of government where capacity building for public servants takes place,” Mr. Kamale said.
He also revealed plans for SILAG’s transformation into a specialized university for public service in the near future.
“We already have two bachelor’s degree programs in place and plans are underway to officially launch the university as early as June or July next year,” he said.
Mr. Kamale urged the officers to uphold the core values of integrity and responsibility and to apply these principles in both their professional and personal lives.
“Integrity is about being in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing, even when no one is watching,” he said.
Meanwhile, DPLGA Secretary Philip Leo said the signing of the contracts and oath represented a strong commitment to ethical leadership and responsible public service.
“We are signing for accountability. We are signing for transparency. We are signing for integrity and morality,” Mr. Leo said.
He told the officers that the signing was more than an administrative requirement.
“Those who will be signing the contract, it is not an administrative act. You are gladly making a commitment to the nation, to transparency, to accountability and to integrity,” he said.
Mr. Leo also described 2025 as a year of reset for the department and encouraged officers to see the contracts as the beginning of a new chapter in their careers.
“The contracts that you will be signing very soon are the beginning of our new chapter. It is not just another third or fourth contract that you will be signing. That is what we are talking about when we speak of a reset,” he said.
The National Certificate 2 in Government (Public Service Induction) program is designed to strengthen the knowledge, skills and professionalism of public servants serving across Papua New Guinea.
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The event ended with certificate presentation, contract signing and a group photo shoot of the graduates, senior officials and the guests at the end.