EIGHTY-one of Papua New Guinea’s 145 government agencies and provincial administrations failed to submit mandatory 2025 annual performance reports.
Prime Minister James Marape said compliance rates varied sharply across the public service, according and tougher enforcement was needed.
A recent report on government agency compliance with reporting showed the economic sector was the best performer, with 22 of 30 agencies, or 73 per cent, meeting the deadline.
The law-and-order sector followed at 67 per cent, with 10 of 15 agencies compliant.
The administrative sector recorded 48 per cent compliance, with 14 of 29 agencies filing reports, while the social sector lagged badly at 31per cent, with only 15 of 49 agencies compliant.
Provincial governments performed worst, with just three of 22, or nine per cent, submitting on time.
The overall picture was stark: 64 entities complied, and 81 did not, underscoring what Marape described as a culture of complacency that had no place in a modern public service.
“Every kina appropriated by Parliament belongs to the people of Papua New Guinea. Every public institution entrusted with those funds has a legal and moral responsibility to account for how those resources are used and what results have been achieved,” he said.
He said annual reporting was a legal obligation under Section 22 of the PM and NEC Act 2020, as amended, and was central to transparency, accountability and parliamentary oversight.
“This is not simply about producing another government document. Annual reports demonstrate transparency, accountability, good governance and respect for Parliament and the taxpayers who fund every agency,” Marape said.
The briefing, prepared by Chief Secretary to Government Ivan Pomaleu, cited persistent non-compliance with statutory reporting obligations, political interference that delays reporting, administrative bottlenecks, overlapping institutional mandates, inadequate funding for monitoring and evaluation, and the diversion of resources away from statutory responsibilities.
Marape said the weak reporting performance made it harder for the government to measure results, identify weaknesses and improve service delivery.
“When agencies fail to report, we cannot accurately measure performance, identify weaknesses, improve service delivery or ensure public funds are producing results. Accountability cannot exist without reporting,” he said.
The prime minister said ministers would now be expected to personally ensure that agencies in their portfolios complied with reporting requirements.
Accountability in Leadership
“I expect every minister to exercise proper oversight over the departments, statutory authorities, commissions, state agencies and provincial entities under their responsibility,” he said.
“Leadership means more than setting policy. It also means ensuring institutions meet their legal obligations.”
Marape welcomed a new registry that will record which agencies complied on time, which filed late and which failed to submit altogether, saying the government would not conceal poor performance.
“Transparency begins with knowing who is complying and who is not. We will not hide poor performance.
He warned that agency heads who could not provide a satisfactory explanation for missing the deadline could face removal.
“Those who have failed to report and cannot provide a satisfactory explanation should resign forthwith,” he said.
“If they are unwilling to do so, my government will commence the proper administrative processes to remove them from office.”
Marape said annual performance reports were not just administrative exercises but planning tools that fed into Vision 2050, the Medium-Term Development Plan IV and annual budgets.
“Our Vision 2050, Medium Term Development Plan IV and annual budgets all depend on accurate reporting from agencies,” he said.
“If agencies fail to report honestly and on time, government planning suffers and ultimately our people suffer.”
He said Papua New Guinea, as it marks 50 years of nationhood, must build stronger institutions and a public service culture in which performance is measured, and leaders are held accountable.
“We cannot build a stronger nation on weak accountability,” he said.
“We must build a Public Service where performance is measured, leadership is responsible, and accountability becomes part of our everyday culture.”
