Former PNG PM O’Neill Raises Alarm Over School Funds and Medicine Shortage
Ialibu-Pangia MP and former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has raised concerns about delayed tuition fee free (TFF) funds and ongoing medicine shortages, saying they are severely affecting schools and health facilities in his electorate.
Speaking on Monday, O’Neill claimed that schools in his district have yet to receive TFF funds, and that the situation is worsening due to districts being forced to use their own operational budgets to maintain essential services like education and health. He said medicine shortages were contributing to rising death rates in local communities.
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| Mr.O'Neill |
O’Neill criticised the Government for what he described as failure in its responsibilities, stressing that provinces should not have to divert limited district resources to cover national obligations.
However, Education Minister Lucas Dawa Dekena responded by stating that all TFF funds for last year had been fully paid. He added that payments for the first two terms of 2025 have already been made, with the third term's disbursement currently being processed.
Health Minister Elias Kapavore also disputed O’Neill’s claims, reporting that K172 million out of the K294 million budgeted for medical supplies this year has already been released for procurement purposes.
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