Sungi calls for ‘Reset at 50’: PNG Public Service to embrace AI and transparency
As Papua New Guinea enters 2026, Public Service Minister Joseph Sungi has issued a clarion call for a total transformation of the nation’s bureaucracy, urging public servants to transition from a 'paper-heavy past' to a 'data-driven future'.
Speaking at a new year dedication service, Minister Sungi introduced the theme "Reset at 50," as the transition from the nation’s first 50 years of sovereignty to a future he says must be defined by operational excellence and technological modernization.
Sungi said the focus for 2026 is aligned with Prime Minister James Marape’s festive message, on the integration of Artificial Intelligence [AI] and digital transformation.
The Minister was quick to dismiss fears that technology would replace human workers. Instead, he framed AI as a tool to bridge geographical gaps and eliminate long-standing inefficiencies.
"It is about fixing our payroll systems to eliminate legacy issues," Sungi said, referencing the Deloitte audit report. "It is about using data to ensure medicines reach health centers in remote districts and cutting through the red tape that slows down our economy."
By automating the public service, the Minister expects to see drastic cost savings in administration, which he intends to redirect toward recruiting more teachers, health workers, and police personnel.
Beyond technology, the Minister announced that the Department of Personnel Management will conduct a comprehensive survey and census this year to produce the first annual 'State of the Service Report' for Parliament.
"This report will tell us whether we, as public servants, are working or not," Sungi said.
He said agency heads will be held accountable for the status of their respective departments.
The Minister also confirmed that the promised 3% pay increase for all public servants will be reflected in Pay No. 2 of 2026.
However, he emphasized that this increase comes with a mandate for higher standards. "I charge you to commit yourselves to the state… Do not return to business as usual. Return with a spirit of servitude," he said.
With the country now moving beyond the Golden Jubilee, Sungi urged public servants to view themselves as architects of a century, working not just for the present, but for the Papua New Guinea of 2075.
"You do not need a title to lead," Sungi said. "Every time you process a file on time, every time you ensure a rural teacher is paid… you are building this nation."
The Minister concluded by calling for a 'One National Public Service' built on honor and pride, urging all employees from drivers to directors to leave their signature on the development of the country.