Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has called on Papua New Guinea’s public servants to lift their performance and accountability, revealing that less than 1.5 per cent of the national population is consuming nearly a quarter of the annual budget through salaries and entitlements.
Prime Minister Marape made the remarks in Parliament today while responding to the 2023–2024 Public Service Report presented by Public Service Minister Hon. Joe Sungi.
“Our public service payroll costs K240 million every fortnight,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Multiply that by 26 pay periods in a year, and you are looking at more than K5 billion— almost one quarter of our national budget of K28 billion. This is being paid to less than 200,000 public servants out of a population of more than 11 million people.”
Prime Minister Marape said that while the Government continues to prioritise public sector compensation, public servants must match this support with improved performance and service delivery.
“At 50 years of independence, this small group of Papua New Guineans must look within, as we all look upward. They must ask: are we delivering value for the money we receive from the people of this country?” he said.
The Prime Minister thanked those public servants who continue to serve faithfully, especially in rural and remote areas, but said stronger reforms were being implemented to ensure efficiency and accountability across the system.
He revealed that since 2019, the Government has paid K211 million to 3,635 retired public servants, many of whom had remained on payroll for up to two decades while awaiting retirement.
“These long-overdue retirements were a legacy issue. We paid them out once and for all—freeing up their positions and saving the State money in the long term,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape also confirmed that more than K200 million in unpaid government contributions to superannuation had been settled in recent years—addressing another longstanding liability in the public service system.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to digital reform and announced the rollout of a merit-based, online public service recruitment system.
“We are moving to an ICT-based process where all public service positions will be advertised online, and applications lodged electronically,” he said. “Whether you are black, white, brown, Christian, Muslim, man or woman—it does not matter. If you qualify, you will get the job based on merit.”
He urged all Members of Parliament and public service leaders to study the 2023–2024 Public Service Report, describing it as a valuable guide for reform and reflection.
“This report deserves to be read by everyone in leadership. Less than two per cent of our people are taking home almost 25 per cent of the national budget—we must ensure they are delivering real outcomes for our people.”
Prime Minister Marape commended Minister Sungi for tabling the updated report and reiterated the Government’s intention to drive further reforms in the sector.
“As we mark 50 years of independence, we are committed to strengthening the public service and restoring its role as the frontline engine of development,” he said.