Pila Niningi

This follows a gazettal that was published on Wednesday, October 27^th, by the Minister for the reappointment of chairman, Ben Herowa, who they believe is facing misappropriation charges.

Today, JSPA chairman, Peter Andama, and people of Juha marched to Kitpeng Building demanding answers.

Andama said the move by Minister Niningi is in contempt of court.

He stated that Herowa was arrested and charged for allegedly abusing nearly K2 million, monies belonging to the people and JSPA.

Minister for Inter-Government Relations, Pila Niningi, confirmed this in Parliament today.

The Minister responsible clarified that K13m was released earlier, and K20m only recently.

“The funds have been released already. A total of K33 million was budgeted. I urge MPs to please chip in and assist because K33 million may not be enough.”

Minister Niningi received backlash from Namatanai MP Walter Schnaubelt, who demanded to know what the actual budget is to fund an LLG election, in order for MPs to know how much they can budget for this exercise.

Nawaeb MP Kennedy Wenge queried how rural students were expected to apply online when they do not have access to computers or the internet.

For the second time in Parliament, Wenge outlined that schools are not only located in cities or urban areas.

The World Bank reported in 2016 that 86.96 percent of PNG’s population live in the rural areas.

Wenge told Parliament that rural-based students, including those from his electorate in Morobe Province, are at a disadvantage following the introduction of the National Online Application System.

Minister Niningi made this call after members of the Joint Security Task Force rampaged the Parliament house early this afternoon.

It is believed that the officers were not happy with the non-payment of their allowances during the APEC Summit, which ended on Sunday.

Minister Niningi, who was at the corridors of the Parliament house after the rampage, said such actions by law enforcers were uncalled for.

The Minister and Imbonggu MP, Pila Niningi, said: “The Members of the Opposition have an obligation to provide a check and balance to every government decisions but it has to be done on the floor of Parliament, not homes and streets.

“The nationwide stop-work protest planned by the Members of the Opposition can be seen as an irresponsible action.

“This is childish. It’s like a barking dog without teeth.”

Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology, Pila Niningi, says what Imbonggu District Development Authority is doing is in line with the National Government Medium Term Development Strategies (MTDS) and Vision 2050 by providing infrastructure and services to the rural communities.

This year the education ministry will be rolling out the online application system that will allow Grade 12 school leavers to apply online, choosing up to five preferences.

Then in 2019, online degree programs and online registration for enrolment to institutions will be offered.

Minister Niningi noted that there will be other rollouts of many programs to improve the interface of education in the country, especially with the boom in technology and the internet era.

Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister, Pila Niningi, explains this is to ensure those institutions meet certain requirements, like the number of students, facilities, lecturers’ qualification, assets and programs of study, among others.

He says those standards are in place because there are institutions claiming to be universities without following the requirements stipulated under the law.

The Minister made reference to the recent court-case with IBS as an example of the upholding of the education system.

He says that his department is calling on all intuitions to follow suit and ensure that they have proper accreditation.

The Minister made references to the Higher Education General Provisions Act of 2014 which captures steps that institutions can take to ensure that they are registered and recognized.

They will remain the same as 2017, says the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister, Pila Niningi.

DHERST had a meeting with the vice chancellor of UPNG and its senior management concerning the matter and an agreement was reached on Friday, January 19th, 2018.

“We have agreed not to increase the fees as previously announced by the university,” says Minister Niningi.