Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says he expects to announce the new National Executive Council (NEC) composition and ministerial portfolio allocations tomorrow following formal processes at Government House.
The Prime Minister said he was undertaking final consultations with ministers affected by the Cabinet reshuffle while also finalising appointments of new members to the National Executive Council.
Prime Minister Marape said the reshuffle was a significant exercise requiring careful consideration, respect and courtesy towards colleagues who had served alongside him over the past four years.
“To be fair to ministers who will be leaving Cabinet, including some with personal and medical considerations, they deserve the courtesy of hearing from me personally before any public announcement is made,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“These are colleagues I have worked with closely over the past four years. As Prime Minister, I owe them that respect and courtesy. It is only proper that I communicate with each of them personally before the changes are announced publicly.”
The Prime Minister said selecting replacement ministers was equally challenging.
“It is not simply a matter of filling vacancies. We must identify capable leaders while maintaining an appropriate political, regional and provincial balance in Cabinet. These are important considerations in assembling a team that can effectively deliver for the country.”
Prime Minister Marape said that with only eight months remaining before the issue of writs for the 2027 National General Election, it was important to position the right leaders in key portfolios to complete the Government’s legislative and development agenda.
“Our focus is to place the right leaders in the right portfolios so we can finish the term strongly and complete the important work that remains before the country goes to the polls.”
In addition to the Cabinet changes, Prime Minister Marape said the Government would begin a broader accountability drive across the public service.
Subject to legal advice, he said he would on Tuesday announce the names of departmental heads, constitutional office holders, provincial administrators, provincial health authority chief executives, heads of tertiary institutions and other agency leaders who have failed to submit their annual reports for the 2025 financial year, as required by law.
The Prime Minister said more than half of the relevant government agencies had failed to comply with their statutory reporting obligations, with some being repeat offenders.
The Prime Minister said the Government’s action followed a briefing from Chief Secretary to Government Ivan Pomaleu, which highlighted widespread non-compliance with statutory annual performance reporting requirements across the public sector.
According to the brief, compliance with the submission of 2025 Annual Performance Reports varied significantly across government sectors, with Economic Sector Agencies recording a 73 per cent compliance rate (22 of 30 agencies), Administrative Sector Agencies 48 per cent (14 of 29), Law and Order Sector Agencies 67 per cent (10 of 15), Social Sector Agencies just 31 per cent (15 of 49), and Provincial Governments only 9 per cent (three of 22).
The Chief Secretary’s brief identified a number of factors contributing to poor compliance, including overlapping agency mandates, administrative bottlenecks, inadequate budget support for monitoring and evaluation, and the diversion of funds away from statutory responsibilities.
Mr Pomaleu recommended that ministers be directed to enforce statutory and parliamentary reporting obligations within their respective portfolios to strengthen compliance, accountability and governance across the public sector.
Prime Minister Marape said the findings reinforced the need for stronger accountability throughout the public service and underscored the Government’s determination to ensure all agencies complied with their legal reporting obligations.
“Enough is enough. The country expects public officials to account for the public funds entrusted to them and the work they have carried out. Annual reporting is a legal obligation, not an option,” Prime Minister Marape said.
He said the Government would publish a paid public notice identifying agencies that had failed to comply and, subject to legal advice and due process, would seek the removal of those responsible from their positions.
Prime Minister Marape said all publicly funded institutions—including national government departments, constitutional offices, provincial administrations, provincial health authorities and tertiary institutions—were required to report on the public funds they received and the outcomes they delivered.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the strong public and media interest in the Cabinet reshuffle and thanked the media and the people of Papua New Guinea for their patience and understanding.
He said he expected to visit Government House tomorrow to formalise the Cabinet changes, after which he would announce the confirmed National Executive Council (NEC) composition and ministerial portfolio allocations.