Juffa describes Sir Puka’s decision as ‘cruelty’ to nation

Oro Governor Garry Juffa has described Minister for Public Services Sir Puka Temu’s decision not to give rise to public servants’ wages for two years as a form of cruelty that will punish the country as a whole.

Juffa told Loop PNG that this thoughtless and sinister decision is no good news and is certain to cause much unhappiness in the public service.

“You do not need to be a rocket scientist or a human resource expert to conclude that an unhappy public service will ensure poor productivity...this in turn is sure to slow down any effort required for nation building.

“The public service is the vehicle required to transform Government policy into tangible outcomes... that is to deliver goods and services and successfully manage Government programs.

“Whilst it is badly in need of a upgrade and modernization, it is still the primary arm of Government in so far as goods and services delivery is concerned,” says Juffa.

He added that the announcement will certainly discourage retention of good patriotic productive public servants who have toiled often under a severely stressful environment to deliver basic goods and services PNG wide.

“So what encourages the public servant now to perform? There is no incentive. Already public servants have poor welfare and benefits in comparison to private sector employees.”

Public Service Minister Sir Puka Temu, when addressing departmental heads in Port Moresby announced that there will be no pay increase for public servants in the next two years.

He said the government will be operating on a deficit budget in 2017 and has had to trim back on pay rises for the next two years.   

Author: 
Freddy Mou