NEWS - NAMIBIA
| 2013-08-07Tjivikua’s contract to be renewed
Shinovene Immanuel
THE Polytechnic of Namibia’s Council has resolved to offer its rector, Tjama Tjivikua, a new five-year deal on the same package.
Sources close to the Council yesterday confirmed that a meeting held on Monday rubber-stamped the contract and that Tjivikua is set to be served with a letter setting out the conditions of the new deal this week.
Tjivikua is said to have asked for an increase on top of his current annual package of N$1,9 million, which is already over the top of what State-Owned Enterprise Governance Council and Cabinet resolutions say a chief executive officer should earn.
It is believed that Tjivikua wants N$500 000 more since he did not get any increment over the past years.
The Council will also explain in the letter that financial reasons have previously restricted them to increase his salary. Some members of the Council expect that Tjivikua, whose contract expires in September this year, will challenge the pay package in the new contract as he did with the decision not to renew his contract earlier this year.
The new deal means that Tjivikua (55), who has been at the helm of the Polytechnic since 1995, will serve until he turns 60. Niilo Taapopi, the Polytechnic of Namibia’s Council chairperson declined to comment yesterday while Tjivikua also said he was too busy to comment.
Two weeks ago, Tjivikua claimed his salary was not subjected to the State-Owned Enterprise Governance Council (SOEGC) caps, which classifies the Polytechnic of Namibia under tier two.
The governance council insisted that Polytechnic falls under Tier 2, which dictates that a CEO in that category should only earn between N$451 739 and N$987 197 annually.
The Namibian understands that the Council, which initially did not want to renew the rector’s contract succumbed to political pressure from powers in Cabinet to give Tjivikua a new deal.
Last month, Minister of Education David Namwandi informed the Polytechnic of Namibia’s Council not to advertise the rector’s position. Namwandi’s decision surprised some people who claimed that the minister wanted Tjivikua out.
“The minister changed his mind because he was also under pressure from Cabinet. Who are we not to follow their wishes,” said a source.
One of the reasons given for Tjivikua’s contract renewal is to allow a smooth transformation from the Polytechnic of Namibia to the Namibian University of Science and Technology.
Meanwhile, The Namibian understands that the Polytechnic of Namibia’s Council will serve for another three years after its current term comes to an end tomorrow.
However, reliable sources close to Taapopi have indicated that he is not going to take up a position on the Council again and will reject a further three-year tenure.
Sources close to the Council yesterday confirmed that a meeting held on Monday rubber-stamped the contract and that Tjivikua is set to be served with a letter setting out the conditions of the new deal this week.
Tjivikua is said to have asked for an increase on top of his current annual package of N$1,9 million, which is already over the top of what State-Owned Enterprise Governance Council and Cabinet resolutions say a chief executive officer should earn.
It is believed that Tjivikua wants N$500 000 more since he did not get any increment over the past years.
The Council will also explain in the letter that financial reasons have previously restricted them to increase his salary. Some members of the Council expect that Tjivikua, whose contract expires in September this year, will challenge the pay package in the new contract as he did with the decision not to renew his contract earlier this year.
The new deal means that Tjivikua (55), who has been at the helm of the Polytechnic since 1995, will serve until he turns 60. Niilo Taapopi, the Polytechnic of Namibia’s Council chairperson declined to comment yesterday while Tjivikua also said he was too busy to comment.
Two weeks ago, Tjivikua claimed his salary was not subjected to the State-Owned Enterprise Governance Council (SOEGC) caps, which classifies the Polytechnic of Namibia under tier two.
The governance council insisted that Polytechnic falls under Tier 2, which dictates that a CEO in that category should only earn between N$451 739 and N$987 197 annually.
The Namibian understands that the Council, which initially did not want to renew the rector’s contract succumbed to political pressure from powers in Cabinet to give Tjivikua a new deal.
Last month, Minister of Education David Namwandi informed the Polytechnic of Namibia’s Council not to advertise the rector’s position. Namwandi’s decision surprised some people who claimed that the minister wanted Tjivikua out.
“The minister changed his mind because he was also under pressure from Cabinet. Who are we not to follow their wishes,” said a source.
One of the reasons given for Tjivikua’s contract renewal is to allow a smooth transformation from the Polytechnic of Namibia to the Namibian University of Science and Technology.
Meanwhile, The Namibian understands that the Polytechnic of Namibia’s Council will serve for another three years after its current term comes to an end tomorrow.
However, reliable sources close to Taapopi have indicated that he is not going to take up a position on the Council again and will reject a further three-year tenure.
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