The Motu-Koita Assembly Act is a creation of the national government but to date, the people of Motu-Koitabu are not recognised in terms of funding from the national budget.
They only receive grants from the National Capital District Commission.
This was revealed by chairman of Motu-Koita Assembly and Deputy Governor of NCD, Opao Udia, when nominating at the Electoral office in Boroko on September 4th in Port Moresby.
Udia said the Act for Motu-Koita Assembly was enacted in 2007, so 2008 was the first Assembly for Motu-Koitabu people.
“Being the chairman who initiated the act in 2007, my expectation was for national government to take full responsibility of Motu-Koita Assembly and its people but coming through after almost eight years, when I went in as acting chairman, I found out the situation was still the same, as the council was replaced by the Assembly,” Udia said.
“From 2016 to date, with the new Assembly coming in, my biggest concern is how our Assembly is going to be operating because national government is yet to give Motu-Koita Assembly a budget and even members of the Assembly have no remuneration and that is another big concern.”
Udia said in 2008 he made a submission to national parliament, through SRC, for members’ remuneration but there have been no positive outcome.
“So as a result, we are surviving on 2 percent GST grant from NCDC.
“The Act of Motu-Koita Assembly is enacted by Parliament and by right, it should be in authority to give us a budget through the national purse, we are not supposed to be living out of a small grant coming from NCDC.
“After all, the National Government derives a lot of money from our land here in Port Moresby and by rights, certain or small percent should come to us Motu-Koitabu people.
“We should not be relying on NCDC because Motu-Koita Assembly Act was not given to us by NCDC.”
Udia is contesting his Tatana electorate seat in the 2018 LLG elections.
He acted as Chairman of Motu-Koita Assembly from 2003-2007 after the demise of Late Adira Gumasa and was given another opportunity after current chairman Miria Ikupu was bed-ridden with illness during the last five years.
(Motu-Koita Assembly Chairman & Deputy Governor for NCD, Opao Udia, shaking hands with Claire Gibson, Assistant Returning Officer for Motu Koita West Constituency, after paying his nomination fees for Tatana electorate)