SOLICITOR’S OFFICE IMPLEMENT HOUSING ADVANCE SCHEME FOR STATE LAWYERS

Minister for Justice & Attorney General, Pila Niningi has announced the implementation of the new Housing Advance Scheme, one of the key priorities in his ministry to improve the employment terms and conditions for State lawyers.

This priority includes acquiring and allocating land for both legal and non-legal officers of the Department of Justice & Attorney General to ensure they have adequate housing.

According to Minister Niningi, the Housing Advance Scheme is already in effect, and it came at a crucial time when many officers are in urgent need of housing.

Minister Niningi highlighted that, over the years, various housing schemes by the Department of Justice and Attorney General and other Government Housing Programs have not progressed successfully, leading to officer demoralization and, in many cases, staff departures, hence the State Solicitor took proactive steps to seek funding assistance from the Ministry and Department of Treasury to address this challenge.

He says, the Marape- Rosso government in recognizing the vital role of the State Solicitor’s office in government and state business,has allocated K5 million towards the Housing Advance Scheme, of which funding was released to the Department of Justice and Attorney General’s Trust Account at the end of 2023.

Following the development of the 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒚, legal and non-legal officers are now eligible to apply for housing assistance from this funding in line with the policy guidelines.

Niningi further adds, the Housing Advance Scheme will enable officers of the Office of the State Solicitor to build and own their homes by assisting with the initial equity required for housing loans, a challenge many public servants face. This initiative not only supports the officers in securing stable housing but also encourages them to stay with the Department, further enhancing their commitment to advancing and protecting the interests of the State.

He thanked State Solicitor, Mr. Daniel Rolpagarea, for his leadership and for championing this initiative in alignment with the Ministry’s priority of improving the employment terms and conditions of State lawyers whilst also extending his gratitude to the Treasurer, Ian Ling Stuckey, MP, for granting the request from the State Solicitor on behalf of the Government.