Government to address issues of unattached officers on pay roll

Govt to address issue of Unattached officers on pay –roll 

The Minister for Public Service Honourable Westly Nukundi Nukundj has initiated the process of fixing the ongoing issue of Pay Roll over –run that has been a concern for past and present Governments. Last Friday (26 July 2019) the Minister demanded answers from the management team of the Department of Personnel Management (DPM) regarding positions and pay for all government departments and state services agencies.

He said the government’s biggest worry is that there are 6070 plus unattached officers on government pay roll and that amounts to 260 to 270 million kina every year.

“We want to find out where the cause is. What the Government aims to achieve is that one person gets paid for doing one job for one position(PPP). The Government is emphasising on the PPP concept, that is what we want to achieve”, said the Minister.

The Minister said it was not as if the Government is trying to cut down on the number of public servants however, it is seeking answers as to why we have unattached officers and in which particular departments and agencies. And if they are not participating in effective service delivery, why are we still keeping them on pay roll.

“I want the management team to furnish the following information before close of business of Monday the 29th of July 2019. A list of all unattached officers who are on government payroll in all departments, provincial governments and State Services Agencies,” said the Minister in a memo.

Minister Nukundj said all this information should be categorised into those that are over the age of 60 and due for retirement and those that have been suspended for over 3 months.

“There are also instances where two or more people are being employed under one position and that is another category. It should also be categorised into those who have been medically unfit for over 3 months and the number of positions approved against current numbers employed, “said the Minister.

Minister Nukundj also wanted to know the number of new recruits in government departments and agencies not on government payroll.

He said the Government was not necessarily trying to reduce cost but rather establish a number that is effectively performing its duties against a position that the government pays.


He asked DPM to furnish this information for all the different categories for each department and state services agency.