The leadership oversight powers of the capital city will now be restored back to NCD Governor’s Office for better management, governance, revenue sharing, budget management, policy implementation and further developments following the passage of NCDC Amendment Bill 2024.
Parliament this afternoon unanimously passed the NCDC Amendment Bill 2024 on voices after its third reading.
That means NCDC Act reverts back to its original spirit and power structure.
Making a speech to garner support from Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape, fellow government and Opposition MPs, Governor Parkop clarified that procurement, administration and Section 32 functions still lie with NCDC Management or the City Manager
Governor Parkop told Parliament that the last amendment to the Act in 2021 rendered NCD Governor and board ‘rubber stamp’ of the management.
“It created a situation where the management was not in alignment with policies, programs and initiatives of the chairman and the board because the oversight powers were placed illogically on the City Manager.
“Many of the problems the city has gone through this year are partly due to or are testament to this absence of oversight powers of the Chairman.
“With financial and procurement powers vested in the management and oversight powers to supervise and oversee themselves, it contributed slow pace in implementing work plans and priorities for the City this year, ” said Governor Parkop.
Governor Parkop continued that the revenue-sharing regime remains the same as amended in 2021 with increased distribution of GST revenue to Motu Koitabu Assembly, Gulf and Central Provinces.
Setting the record straight, he said the amendment bill was not new or unusual.
“It’s the same and almost similar powers to the Governors of the Province.”
Governor Parkop thanked Prime Minister, James Marape and his Marape-Rosso Government, fellow coalition party leaders and their MPs, and Opposition MPs for having supported the bill.
He stated that the city is now home to more than 1.4 million people as unofficially indicated to him via the National Census.
Thus, he said, he prefers that he should be given more powers like in all the provinces to deal with mounting challenges like increased population by immigration, increased settlements, poor public transport, health and education services.
Migration is a national challenge, but he will not shy away from it, he said.
The city is a national asset which needs leadership oversight powers for effective and efficient management and governance of the city and its affairs, he said.