Even though the Government’s policy of reclaiming official residences allocated to political authorities is aimed at ensuring the more productive and economic use of State assets, only 10 of the 52 such residences taken back have so far been allocated for official purposes, The Daily Morning learns.

Information received under the Right to Information Act revealed that 53 official residences that had previously been allocated to former Presidents, Ministers, and Deputy Ministers were identified for repossession under the Government’s policy changes. Of these, 52 residences have already been taken back by the Public Administration Ministry. One residence that had been allocated to a former President has been returned to the Presidential Secretariat, it is yet to be formally handed over to the said Ministry. Of the residences that have been taken back under the Ministry's purview, only 10 have so far been allocated to various institutions on a temporary basis. These include four residences allocated to the Justice and National Integration Ministry, two to the State Intelligence Service, and one each to the Criminal Investigation Department, the Public-Private Partnership Unit, the Women and Child Affairs Ministry for the National Commission on Women, and the Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry.

When inquired about the total revenue generated from renting, leasing, or otherwise allocating official residences between January of last year (2025) and January 2026, the Ministry stated that analysed information could not be provided.

After assuming office during 2024–2025, the new administration initiated a review of official residences assigned to Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and arrangements were made to discontinue the long-standing practice of providing official bungalows to political authorities, with the stated objective of ensuring the more productive economic use of State assets.