The Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs (DPLLG) Secretary Philip Leo has urged newly appointed Senior Provincial Monitoring Officers to remain politically neutral and uphold professionalism as Papua New Guinea moves closer to the National General Election.
Speaking during the oath-taking and contract-signing ceremony in Port Moresby last week, Mr. Leo said the officers have a critical role in safeguarding public resources and ensuring good governance across provinces and districts.
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He reminded them that their duty is to serve the State and the people of Papua New Guinea, not political interests or individual leaders.
“As we move towards the election period, you must remain professional and independent in carrying out your duties,” Mr. Leo said.
He said public assets, government-funded projects and equipment purchased with taxpayers’ money belong to the people and must not be used for political gain.
Mr. Leo called on the officers to closely monitor provincial and district administrations and report any irregularities affecting service delivery or the proper use of public funds.
He said the deployment of monitoring officers was intended to strengthen oversight at the sub-national level and ensure government programs are implemented in accordance with the law.
The Secretary reminded the officers that the oath they had taken was a commitment to integrity, accountability and transparency in public service.
He also encouraged them to embrace discipline, sacrifice and hard work, saying these values were essential for national development.
Mr. Leo drew examples from countries such as South Korea and Singapore, noting that their development was achieved through long-term commitment and sacrifice by earlier generations.
“We often admire developed nations today, but their success came because people before them made sacrifices for their children and grandchildren,” he said.
He urged officers to adopt the same mindset in serving Papua New Guinea by focusing on effective public service delivery and long-term national progress.
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Mr. Leo warned that officers who fail to uphold their oath or breach professional standards would face disciplinary action.
The newly appointed Senior Provincial Monitoring Officers will be deployed nationwide to strengthen accountability, improve governance and ensure government services reach communities across Papua New Guinea.