Port Moresby – The Ministry of Public Service, in collaboration with the Department of Community Development and Religion, church leaders and key stakeholders, held the 2026 Public Service Dedication Service on 12th January 2026 at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, bringing together national leaders, heads of government departments, and public servants to dedicate the year’s work to God and the people of Papua New Guinea.

The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Hon. James Marape, MP, delivered the keynote address at the 2026 Public Service Dedication Service, calling on public servants to place God first as the fundamental strength of the nation and on every occasion of life.

He emphasized that public servants must give 100 percent effort in the work they perform and uphold accountability at all times, not only to those who are watching, but also to the unseen eyes. The Prime Minister stated that nations do not change through policies alone, but when the heart changes, and urged public servants to remain loyal to God and to the country as they carry out their duties.

Delivering his address at the Dedication Service, Minister for Public Service, Hon. Joe Sungi, MP, emphasized that public service is both a professional and a national calling, urging officers to recommit themselves to integrity, discipline, and service excellence.

The Minister reflected on the nation’s 50 years of Independence, introducing the RESET@50 agenda as a strategic shift toward preparing the Public Service for the next 50 years. He stressed that while the first half-century focused on sovereignty and institution building, the future must be defined by efficiency, accountability, and results.

A key focus for 2026 will be modernization through digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), noting that AI will play a critical role in fixing payroll systems, improve service delivery to remote areas, reduce administrative costs, and enable smarter decision-making across government.

He also announced that the Department of Personnel Management (DPM) will lead a Public Service survey and census, forming the basis of an annual State of the Public Service Report to be presented to Parliament. This initiative aims to promote transparency and provide a clear assessment of performance across government agencies.

In closing, Minister Sungi confirmed a 3% pay increase for all public servants, effective in Pay No. 2 of 2026, and called on officers to return to work with renewed purpose, moving away from the mindset of ‘business as usual’.

The 2026 Public Service Dedication Service reaffirmed a collective commitment to building a professional, accountable, and modern Public Service that fully serves the people of Papua New Guinea.