The 2027 National General Election (NGE) is coming up and those in the public sector intending to contest the election are being reminded to resign by October 2026, which is six months prior to the commencement of the election period next year.
This reminder is in a circular issued by the Department of Personnel Management (DPM), which contains details further explaining the constitutional requirements along with the standard operation procedures for public servants’ resignations prior to the actual election period.
The circular- Circular No. 15 of 2026 was issued yesterday, Monday 29th June by the Department Secretary Ms. Taies Sansan, and addressed to all departmental heads, heads of public authorities, all constitutional office holders, all provincial administrators and public servants.
The circular states that Section 55 of the Public Services (Management) Act 1995 (as amended) requires that all public officers wishing to contest the 2027 NGE shall resign from office six (6) months prior to the date of issue of Writs by the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner. The provisions of the Act for this purpose apply to all State Services and other Public Authorities.
The acting Electoral Commissioner has declared that the Writs for the 2027 NGE will be issued on the 29th of April 2027 and the date six months prior to the issue of the Writs is 29th October 2026.
In terms of Service- related Entitlements and Reinstatement, all salary and allowances and other contractual entitlements due to the person resigning to contest the 2027 NGE, shall be ceased and all State properties under their custody are to be returned no later than 29th October 2026.
“Each aspiring candidate shall be removed from the payroll forthwith in the next available pay,” the secretary stated, adding that the office held by the person at the time of resignation to contest the NGE will become vacant and be filled substantively or in an acting capacity by another officer.
The circular also explained that if the officer is unsuccessful in winning a seat in the election, the officer has no automatic right to be re- admitted to the Public Service but may apply for re- appointment through the normal selection and recruitment process prescribed un the Public Service General Order No. 3.
It went on to say that the officer may exercise the option to leave the service without receiving service- related termination benefits and if re- admitted to the Public Service, after being unsuccessful at the election, the period of absence will be taken as leave without pay.
