Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs urges Papua regional leaders to accelerate Otsus management

Jayapura - Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Ribka Haluk has urged all regional leaders in Papua to accelerate the management of Special Autonomy (Otsus) funds to support effective and sustainable development.

“By May, 46 regions in Papua had received the first-quarter Otsus funds, fully transferred by the Ministry of Finance,” Ribka said after opening the Strategic Papua Analyst (APS) event in Jayapura, Papua, on Friday.

Therefore, she urged regional leaders in Papua to act swiftly and adapt quickly to changes occurring at both national and regional levels.

“My hope for regional leaders is that they must work quickly and adapt swiftly to ongoing changes,” she added.

She explained that the central government, through the Ministry of Internal Affairs, would continue to support regional governments in implementing independent and accountable governance to ensure Otsus funds are used appropriately.

“Oversight of Otsus fund management is being strengthened, particularly at every stage of planning, disbursement, and budget accountability across all regions in Papua,” she said.

She added that the accelerated fund disbursement is supported by inter-ministerial interoperability systems involving the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and other relevant ministries and agencies.

“I believe this is an acceleration already achieved. A leap forward, an improved governance framework for the six provinces in Papua,” she said.

She added that regional consistency in managing and accounting for Otsus funds would be a key indicator of local governments’ success in driving development.