The National | Jesher Tilto | April 17, 2025

MORE than 50 MPs are yet to submit acquittals for their 2024 service improvement programme (SIP) funds to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development.

Acting secretary Aihi Vaki said only 62 out of 118 MPs had submitted their acquittals as of yesterday.

He said more MPs would present theirs in due course, however, the Ombudsman Commission (OC) had directed for all MPs to submit their 2024 provincial service improvement programme (PSIP) funds and district service improvement programme (DSIP) funds by March 31.

OC, as an independent constitutional institution created by the Constitution in 1975, consists of a chief ombudsman and two ombudsmen.

According to Section 218 of the Constitution, the purpose of the commission is to:

• ENSURE that all government bodies are responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people;
• WORK with government bodies to improve their service-delivery mechanisms and ensure services rendered are fair and non-discriminatory;
• HELP eliminate unfair and defective legislation and practices affecting or administered by government bodies; and,
• ENFORCE the Leadership Code, a code of ethics that leaders are expected to know and follow that was set up by the Constitution.

The primary functions of the commission are to investigate:

• ALLEGED wrong conduct and defective administration by government bodies;
• ALLEGED discriminatory practices, by any person or body; and,
• ALLEGED misconduct in office under the Leadership Code.

In February, OC said failure to do so could prompt further enquiry under the Leadership Code.

“It has been a great concern to the Ombudsman Commission throughout the years that the acquittals remain outstanding for many years, hence this directive,” the statement said.

“Copies of the acquittals must be sent to the Ombudsman Commission through its regional offices and its head office in Port Moresby before or by March 31, 2025.

“It is important that this directive is complied with as non-compliance will result in charges of misconduct in office under Section 23 of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership.”

Last year, the OC noted that 81 MPs from all provinces and districts, had not submitted acquittals for certain financial years.

Meanwhile, Vaki said despite the directive from OC, his department would still accept them as DIRD focused more on monitoring the implementation, performance audit and reporting of developments by the 118 sub-national administrations.