By Loretta B Manele

We suggest that while the work on the draft constitution is in progress, the government, through the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) should proceed to reform the provincial government system.

Manasseh Sogavare, minister for Finance and Treasury voiced this when speaking on the Constitution Amendment of the Constituent Assembly Sitting Bill 2024 in parliament yesterday.

He stressed that this is to set in motion the process of devolving more functions to the provincial government as agreed by the parties to the Townsville Peace Agreement.

Sogavare mentioned that if they go back to the Townsville Peace Agreement, what was asked for was not actually for a state government but for more devolution of power to go down to the provinces.

“So, this process should see more resources and logistical support given to the provincial government over a period of time to enable them to deliver the devolved functions, while we work on the state government system”

Sogavare stated that this reform may require a serious review and amendment made to the 1997 version of the Provincial Government Act.

He said that the reform of the provincial government system is to be conducted in that context.

Sogavare stated that it must be conducted in the context of preparing the provinces to cope with the administrative, structural, institutional, and logistical challenges that come with increased responsibility to deliver services.

He added that this should be so that they work towards realizing and progressing the provinces towards the attainment of greater autonomy with the emphasis on effective service delivery and allowing strategic development to take place, not structural expansion of our government system,

“I think it’s very important that we take note of issues like this”

Sogavare emphasized that to advance this strategy, a review and reform of the current Provincial Government Act is necessary and a core objective of such a review is to set in motion the process of devolving powers to the nine provincial governments.

“Because that is what the state government is going to eventually do. By putting power to other people, let them start to get used to more powers that is devolved down with resources from within too”

Sogavare noted that this is so that when state government comes, there is just a seamless transition to the new structure of government that they are adopting.