Students from the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNG UoT) have given an ultimatum to the Chief Ombudsman Commissioner, calling for action on key constitutional and governance issues.
The Student Representative Senate (SRS) presented a petition on April 17th to the Ombudsman Commission (OC), following concerns raised during the Students’ Open Forum on March 26. The forum came after the government’s Facebook ban on March 24th.
SRS President Brent Karol said the petition was based on verified information and reflects the views of the students under Section 19 of the Constitution.
The petition has three main parts and was delayed due to the university’s graduation.
Chief Ombudsman Commissioner Richard Pagen said, “The Commission is already working on all three concerns.” Further stating that one issue is in court, another is being investigated, and the third is already being addressed.
While responding to the students, Pagen also spoke about the impact of political instability and the need for reforms, including electing the Prime Minister directly. He also raised concerns about how MPs handle public funds and said public servants should manage those programs for better transparency.
The presentation was originally planned for Friday, April 11th, but was postponed to April 17th as the university’s 57th graduation ceremony was held on the same day.
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