Public Servants salaries soon to be managed by Department of Personnel Management:

The Department of Personnel Management is currently working on transferring the public service payroll system from the Department of Finance to the Department of Personnel Management.

This was made known by Public Service Minister Joseph Sungi this week when officiating at the launch of the LLG Councilors official payroll system.

Mr Sungi says, at the direction of the National Executive Council, DPM will be responsible to clean up and update the system which will further be transferred to government departments, agencies and provincial governments.

Minister Sungi says the transfer of the Alesco payroll system to the Ascender payroll platform is a key priority for his department.

“NEC has given direction to transfer the payroll system to my Department of Personnel Management and we’re working closely with Finance department to allow this process,” Mr Sungi said.

“This is one of the key priorities for my department to ensure payroll is transferred to DPM.

“Once we clean up and update the payroll system, we will transfer it to relevant government departments and agencies as well as provincial heads.”

Mr Sungi pointed out that with recent issues faced in the payroll system, this bold step taken is part of a process in improving government structures to avoid similar incidents to what transpired on January 10.

He said with this transferal, government departments and agencies will be responsible to deal with their own matters related to finance.

“Learning from what happened on Jan 10, we want to make sure government agencies and departments are responsible for their own financial issues.

“We have transferred powers to department heads and once we transfer their payroll, they will be responsible to deal with their own matters.

“For example; police members can go to their headquarter at Konedobu to sort out financial issues instead of running to DPM.

“Similar to all other departments and agencies.”