Chief Secretary to Government Ivan Pomaleu, OBE has officiated at the Provincial Administrators Conference on Monday 23rd March 2026 in Port Moresby.

This conference is aimed at strengthening governance and enhancing service delivery across all levels of our government.

While delivering his opening remarks, the Chief Secretary welcomed the Prime Minister, Hon. Chief James Marape, CMG and the Minister for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, Hon. Soroi Eroi CMG, Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Secretary, Mr. Philip Leo and the Provincial Administrators.

“Your presence here today sends a powerful and    reassuring    message    to    every Provincial Administrators gathered in this room that the National Government stands firmly committed to strengthening governance and enhancing service delivery across all levels of our government,” he said.

Mr. Pomaleu stated that Provincial Administrators are the backbone of sub-national governance in Papua New Guinea.

“Your  role  is  not  merely  procedural;  It  is  indispensable.  You  are  the  vital    bridge between national policy and the everyday realities of our people, In every ward, every village, and every remote   community   of this great nation.   Your dedication ensures that the vision of government translates into meaningful Impact for our citizens,” he added.

Mr. Pomaleu said we gather today at a  defining moment in Papua New  Guinea’s history. We have just passed the milestone of 50 years of nationhood, 5O years of striving, learning, and building.

“And as we enter 2026, our collective theme rings dearly:  Reset, Recommit, and Dedicate for a New Beginning. These are not empty words. That is precisely the spirit in which this conference is convened,” he said.

Further the Chief Secretary emphasized that the 2026 National Budget was framed under the theme Security with Growth, reflects this very ambition,” he said.

The  Prime  Minister  has  been  aware  that  without  economic  security,  institutional security, and social security, sustainable growth   is not possible. And without   growth, security remains fragile.  These two imperatives are inseparable, and they are at the heart of everything we do as public servants.

“You, Provincial Administrators, stand at a critical juncture in the decentralisation story of this country. Pangu created the Provincial Government system in 1975, and this Government is determined to ensure that system works better for our people in 2026 and beyond,” he added.

In addition, the Chief Secretary said the Organic Law on Provincial and local   Level Governments has served us well, but we must now define with greater responsibility from each tier of government, the national, provincial, district, and local level,” he said.

The   Provincial and Local Level Services Monitoring  Authority or PLLSMA is being realigned to become more responsive, more results- focused, and more accountable to the sub-national sector.

Mr. Pomaleu urged the Provincial Administrators to fully embrace this realignment you must be active participants, not passive observers in this reform process.

In November last year, the Prime Minister tabled in Parliament the Reset  PNG@50 Roadmap. Papua New Guinea’s official reform blueprint for the next 20 years.

This document   is a result of an open, rigorous, and inclusive national review process led by a Steering Committee chaired by Mr. Charles Abel. It Is not the work of one government.  It is the work of the nation.

The   Review found   that   after 50 years, progress has been slow and uneven; that our human development indicators remain among the lowest in the Pacific; and that the wealth from our natural resources has not always translated into widespread prosperity for our people.

“Reset@5O is PNG’s decisive answer to that challenge, a call for national reset in mindset, institutions, and leadership culture,” he said.

“For us in the public service and for you as Provincial Administrators, this Roadmap is our compass. It  demands accountability and  transparency at  every  level.  It  demands evidence-based decision-making. It demands that   we shift from   business-as-usual to outcomes-driven delivery.  And it demands that we strengthen our provincial and sub- national governance systems so they can truly deliver for our people,” Mr Pomaleu explained.

Further, the Chief Secretary maintained that this conference is not just a gathering, perhaps, it is a platform for genuine dialogue, for honest assessment, and for forging the partnerships and commitments that will carry us forward.

“I am confident that the outcomes of this conference will serve as the blueprint for the next phase of strengthening our provincial administrations,” he said.

The NMCA was launched by the Prime Minister in mid 2025.  From 2019 to 2024 alone, our Government oversaw K131 billion in expenditure.  And the question asked is; what have we done with this money?  Has it translated   into real, tangible   improvements for the   lives of our people?

Mr. Pomaleu answered that the NMCA is our answer to those questions.  It is not another layer of bureaucracy. It is a strategic oversight and whole-of-government coordination mechanism that will drive discipline, transparency and results-based systems.

“It will use real-time monitoring, digital dashboards, GIS mapping and AI-enabled audits to track government spending from Waigani all the way down to the ward level,” he said.

Mr David Wereh, the inaugural CEO of the NMCA, will be presenting on the rationale and operations of the Authority, and so the Chief Secretary encouraged all of them to engage closely with his presentation.

Also, Mr Charles Abel will also do a presentation on Tuesday 24th  March 2026 on the 20-year roadmap that is guiding our national reset and renewal.

Following this Conference was the launch and presentation of three important initiatives that will have a lasting and positive impact on governance at the sub-national level.

•  Firstly, the launch of the National Framework for Ward Development 2026-2036. This Framework provides a structured and nationally consistent approach to ward-level development planning, ensuring that growth is planned, resourced, and delivered from the grassroots up.

•   Secondly,  the  launch  of  the  National  Ward  Record  System.  A  digital  data platform  that  will  give us accurate, up-to-date  information at the ward level to support evidence-based development planning, informed decision-making, and equitable resource allocation. Good governance requires good data, and this System is a significant step in that direction.

•  Finally, the Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Provincial and Local level Government Affairs, CPA PNG, and the Auditor- General Office.

To conclude, the Chief Secretary highlighted that as we begin another 5O years of our journey, we must Reset, Recommit, and Dedicate ourselves in 2026, let us not forget why we chose public service.  Let us choose excellence over mediocrity.

“Let us choose accountability over convenience. And let us choose our people always over ourselves,” he said.