Sam Koim, the Commissioner‑General of Papua New Guinea’s Internal Revenue Commission (IRC), has sounded the alarm over the IMF’s push to create an “Oversight Board” that would supervise the IRC. He argues the move would set a dangerous precedent for PNG’s sovereignty and undermine a tax agency that’s already delivering results.
*Why Koim is worried*
- *Threat to independence* – The IRC is a statutory body created by the Internal Revenue Commission Act 2014, with its own internal and external accountability mechanisms. Koim says an external board would erode that independence and open the door to undue influence, especially from foreign actors . ¹ ²
- *Timing looks suspect* – The proposal surfaced while the IRC was conducting high‑profile audits of multinational corporations that had previously escaped scrutiny. Koim suggests the board could be used to “fix” those investigations or protect powerful interests . ³
- *Sovereignty concerns* – By attaching the board to IMF loan conditions, the fund is effectively leveraging its financial support to force structural reforms. Koim calls this “unwarranted” and a breach of PNG’s right to manage its own fiscal institutions .
- *No evidence of failure* – Revenue collection has more than doubled under Koim’s leadership, rising from K8 billion in 2020 to nearly K17 billion last year. He asks where the proof is that the current system is broken .
*What the IMF says*
The IMF’s own reports note that an oversight board is being prepared as a structural benchmark under the Extended Credit Facility and Extended Fund Facility programs, aimed at strengthening accountability and aligning PNG’s tax administration with international best practices . ⁴ ⁵ The Fund frames the board as a way to reinforce governance gaps identified in its safeguards assessment.
*The broader debate*
_Supporters_ argue that an independent oversight body could improve transparency, help meet international anti‑corruption standards, and reassure investors about the stability of PNG’s fiscal framework.
_Critics_ (including Koim and Prime Minister James Marape) contend that such a board would compromise a high‑performing institution, create a costly layer of bureaucracy, and set a precedent for external interference in domestic policy .
*Bottom line*
Koim’s warning is that the proposed IMF oversight committee isn’t just a technical tweak—it’s a potential erosion of PNG’s institutional autonomy that could ripple through other state agencies. The debate now sits at the intersection of IMF‑driven reform, national sovereignty, and the IRC’s proven track record. Whether the board moves forward will likely hinge on how much weight PNG’s leaders give to maintaining independence versus securing additional financing and technical support.
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