National Housing Corporation in turmoil as personnel fight over top post

The position of the Managing Director at the National Housing Corporation has come under scrutiny again following a National Court decision which found that the appointment of the incumbent Henry Mokono in October 2021 did not follow  proper process.

 Residential housing in Port Moresby

The court decision on April 28, 2023 which stemmed from a judicial review filed by former acting Managing Director Elizabeth Bowada concluded that the NHC board was not consulted during the displacement of Bowada and the appointment of Mokono.

Bowada has argued through the judicial review that under the Regulatory Statutory Act (RSA) the NHC Board must be consulted or the process was flawed.

Mr Mokono has released a statement being concerned that following the courts ruling by Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi, Bowada's team had attempted to take over the office of the NHC but he said the court ruling 'never' gave orders for Bowada to assume the role as MD.

He has appealed to the police hierarchy within the NCD Metropolitan Command to issue instructions to their officers to stand down and not to take sides and disrupt normal operations of the NHC, and protect state institutions and public servants.

Mokono who was appointed to the position on October 26,2021 said his lawyers were already in Court and appealing the ruling by Deputy Chief Justice, Ambeng Kandakasi as well as seeking further clarifications on his April 28, 2023 ruling on Bowada’s judicial review.

Since his appointment, Mokono highlights tasks he had progressed in the areas  not limited to:    

• implementing a new organizational structure, staff development and up-skilling to bring credibility to the organization;

• installing accountability, transparency, good governance, restoring virtues and best practices;

• down-sizing of NHC work force from 380 to 218 and saving government of K6 million in wages annually;

• Deliver the stalled Durand Farm Housing project;

• Renovation of the NHC Tokarara headquarters which government has already allocated more than K10 million for this purpose;

• Cleansing and prosecution of those engaged in corruption and the mess in the NHC and restoring public confidence in the organization. 

 

Government minister happy with major renovation of public housing

 BY CYRIL GARE

Housing and Urbanisation Minister Justin Tkatchenko has expressed satisfaction and confidence in the “major renovation” works currently undertaken by contractors at the National Housing Corporation (NHC) flats at Manu Autoport in Port Moresby.

When briefed on “work in progress” yesterday, he said he was satisfied with work so far and was optimistic contractors will deliver within the five months time frame.

Tkatchenko said all other NHC properties in Port Moresby will follow suit and undergo major renovation this year and these properties include 3 mile Red Cross flats, 5 mile flats, Angau Drive flats, Korobosea flats, NBC flats East Boroko, 4 mile hostel adjacent to old PIH, Hohola new generation hostel and Dorido hostel at June Valley, among others.

Minister Tkatchenko said this signify the Government’s seriousness in providing low cost affordable housing for Papua New Guineans and “wrestle the bull by its horn” attributing to reviving the NHC from some 30 years of neglect and corruption.

NHC’s multi million kina flagship project would be the Duran Farm Housing project in Port Moresby where more than 2,000 affordable homes were to be built.

He said under Henry Mokono - as new permanent managing director, NHC has taken stock of all its properties and assets nationwide and similar renovation and maintenance works would begin soon.

Work started at the Manu Autoport property on Nov 22, 2021 which covered the four (4) allotments comprising 16 units.

Contractors took down badly rotten walls, louvers, fly wires, window frames and interior structures of the building which “haven’t had such a renovation for over 30 or 40 years”, said Mr. Martin Tau – NHC’s Executive Director - Corporate Service and Administration.

On Nov 3, 2021, NHC managing director, Mr. Henry Mokono visited the Manu Autoports tenants and their families and announced the K4 million facelift plan and sought their cooperation to vacate the property and allow maintenance work to begin.

“And since the good Minister (Tkatchenko) came into this place, we’ve made some decisions and we’ve made many decisions to turn this organization that people in PNG will respect. We do things by the book. We do things according to law that should be the way this place should be run. We do things correctly. We do things by process. We do things honestly. We do things transparently, we got to be accountable for our decision making”.

Mr. Mokono vows to clean up the NHC and instil a new corporate image to the organisation through accountability, transparency and good governance.

Mr. Mokono’s major tasks include;

• Create a new staff structure to see down-sizing of NHC work force from 380 to 218 and saving government of K6 million in wages annually;

• Revamp and deliver the stalled Durand Farm Housing project;

• Renovate the NHC Tokarara headquarters which government has already allocated K10 million for this purpose;

• Cleansing and prosecution of those engaged in corruption and the mess in the NHC; and

• restoring public confidence in the organisation.