THE newly-appointed Secretary for Department of Provincial and Local Level Governments, Philip Leo has described the proposed payment of ward councillors’ wages through the government’s Alesco payroll system as ‘critical enabler for development.’
His department, he said, is waiting for an official launch of the migration of 6,375 ward members, deputy presidents and mayors onto the payroll system.
The empowerment of sub-national governments is important for development, he said.
Mr Leo said for the first time in the history of this country the Marape-Rosso Government is putting ward members on a fortnight pay.
He stated the Cabinet decision to put them on the payroll was made in 2021.
He continued that the deputy presidents and mayors would be paid K350 per fortnight whilst the councillors receive K300 each per fortnight.
Secretary Leo said that would mean the current government is injecting more than K1.93 million into the rural economy, increasing cash flow.
The LLG Administration Act is being worked on to redefine and increase roles and and responsibilities of the ward members. These leaders are the eyes and ears of the national government. They will ensure the people (teachers, nurses, Doctors, police etc…) who are paid to serve are on the ground doing that they are supposed to,” he told PNG SUN.
The sub-national leaders will report back to his department on whether much-needed government services are delivered by the Provincial Governments, DDAs and LLG Presidents, he said.