Prolonged closure of OC office concerning

Chief Ombudsman Michael Dick is concerned that the prolonged closure of the Ombudsman Commission office will affect some of the urgent cases before the Courts.

The OC office doors in Port Moresby and Lae were locked by the landlord last Friday because of non-payment of rental bills.                            

The closure has also affected the public counter to lodge complaints against people holding public office who are suspected of breaking the leadership code.        

The Chief Ombudsman said outstanding rental payments of K975,000 had already been paid by the Finance Department and expects the office to be opened after confirmation by the landlord.  

Dick clarified that as an agent of the State, the rental payments are made by Finance Department through the Government Office Allocation Committee.      

“The lease agreement is between Nasfund and the State, what we call the Government Office Allocation Committee. And OC is the agent of State and tenant of the property, the Department of Finance pays for the rental, not OC,” Dick clarified. 

The regional offices in Kokopo and Mt Hagen are still open.

Author: 
Charles Yapumi