07Jul 25
- Admin Web Papua
- Upacara
- 5967 x dilihat.
JAKARTA – The Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, officially inaugurated Agus Fatoni as the Acting Governor of Papua, replacing Ramses Limbong, who completed his one-year term of service. (July 7)
In his remarks, the Minister of Home Affairs stated that although the inauguration was held simply, it still carried strategic and important significance. According to the Minister, Papua is a region that requires special attention in terms of politics, social issues, economy, and governance.
The Minister expressed his appreciation for the performance of the previous Acting Governor, Ramses Limbong, who was considered successful in maintaining regional stability, building cross-sectoral communication, and supporting national agendas in Papua over the past year.
However, the Minister also highlighted several urgent challenges that need to be addressed by the new Acting Governor:
- Decline in Fiscal Capacity – Papua is currently facing fiscal challenges, marked by a decrease in regional financial capacity. Around 30–35% of the total regional budget is spent on employee salaries, while basic public services remain suboptimal.
- Distribution of Civil Servants and the Impact of New Autonomous Regions (DOB) – Following the establishment of new autonomous regions, the distribution of civil servants remains uneven, posing a burden on the Province of Papua.
- Spending-Revenue Imbalance – Nearly all provinces in Papua have recorded higher spending than revenue. Only Central Papua has low spending, but this is also a concern as it may indicate poor budget absorption.
- Construction of Government Offices in the New Regions – Some new regions, such as South Papua and Central Papua, have begun constructing government offices, but in Highland Papua, progress is hindered due to unresolved land location agreements.
- Political Situation Ahead of the Revote – Papua is preparing for an important event, a repeat election following a Constitutional Court decision. The revote is scheduled for August 6, 2025. The Minister hopes the process will run safely, orderly, and peacefully, and confirmed that funding issues for the PSU have been resolved by the local government.
- Internal Consolidation and Financial Governance – The Minister emphasized the need for internal consolidation and strengthening of regional financial governance. With a background as a former Director General of Regional Financial Development, Dr. A. Fatoni is considered highly suitable to lead Papua through this challenging transition phase.
On the same occasion, Agus Fatoni expressed his gratitude for the trust given by the President through the Minister of Home Affairs. He affirmed his readiness to carry out his duties and responsibilities in ensuring continued development in Papua.
“I cannot do this alone. I truly need the cooperation of all parties—regional leadership coordination forums, civil servants, religious leaders, traditional leaders, community figures, and all elements of the nation in Papua,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ramses Limbong, who served as Acting Governor of Papua for 2024/2025, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to all parties who supported him during his term.
He stated that the inauguration of a new Acting Governor is a common occurrence in the dynamics of governance.
“I express my highest appreciation to regional leadership coordination forums, religious leaders, traditional leaders, civil servants, and all stakeholders who have collaborated and supported me during my term. I hope the new leadership will continue the efforts initiated for the well-being of the Papuan people,” said Ramses.
This inauguration marks an important moment in strengthening the continuity of governance and stability in Papua Province. The central government hopes the new Acting Governor will accelerate public service delivery, build social harmony, and successfully carry out strategic governmental agendas, including the implementation of the revote in Papua. ***
