6 billion for public servants

GOVERNMENT employs about 84 000 civil servants and personnel expenditure amounts to N$6 billion in the new financial year, which started on April 1.

Tabling the budget for the Office of the Prime Minister in Parliament yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila said some civil servants at each Ministry, Government office and agency would receive a transport allowance ranging between N$198 and N$220 a month, but only those in certain categories. “In addition, improvement in the transport allowances of staff members in the management and professional cadres have been included in the new budget,” Amathila pointed out.The Office of the Prime Minister will soon establish the Institute of Public Administration and extend the implementation of the performance management system to improve service delivery to the public.The new institute will require N$18,9 million for buildings and infrastructure and the first training programmes will start this year, Amathila added.Other projects in the pipeline are a new job evaluation and grading system for the public service, and initiatives relating to HIV-AIDS and disabled people at the workplace.In her speech, the Deputy PM pointed out that the provisions of the State-owned Enterprises Governance Act, which was promulgated in 2006, would be implemented.”The SOEG Council will be activated and this will enable the improvement of the governance of State-owned enterprises.As chairman of the Council, Prime Minister Nahas Angula has already tasked various experts to conduct benchmarking exercises on performance contracts with and performance evaluation of parastatals.”The work of the Council will require N$4,8 million for this year.Amathila added that salary guidelines for boards and chief executives at parastatals and other State-owned enterprises would be set up and policy directives on investments and dividend requirements would be developed.”The database in the skills profiles, qualifications and experience levels of board members will also be updated,” she stated.A project to improve the education of San children only received N$400 000, similar to last year.The Prime Minister’s Office will also spend N$50 million over the next three years to implement the e-governance policy framework.”We are convinced of the immense benefits which electronic and information and communication technology (ICT) usage can bring to many areas of public life in a developing country like electronic records and documentation management and the creation of community information centres.”Five million dollars will be added to the disaster fund, from which N$9,5 has already been paid out for Caprivi flood relief.The Emergency Management Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister has been upgraded to a directorate, she concluded.The Office of the Prime Minister will receive a total of N$115,7 million this financial year.”In addition, improvement in the transport allowances of staff members in the management and professional cadres have been included in the new budget,” Amathila pointed out.The Office of the Prime Minister will soon establish the Institute of Public Administration and extend the implementation of the performance management system to improve service delivery to the public.The new institute will require N$18,9 million for buildings and infrastructure and the first training programmes will start this year, Amathila added.Other projects in the pipeline are a new job evaluation and grading system for the public service, and initiatives relating to HIV-AIDS and disabled people at the workplace.In her speech, the Deputy PM pointed out that the provisions of the State-owned Enterprises Governance Act, which was promulgated in 2006, would be implemented.”The SOEG Council will be activated and this will enable the improvement of the governance of State-owned enterprises.As chairman of the Council, Prime Minister Nahas Angula has already tasked various experts to conduct benchmarking exercises on performance contracts with and performance evaluation of parastatals.”The work of the Council will require N$4,8 million for this year.Amathila added that salary guidelines for boards and chief executives at parastatals and other State-owned enterprises would be set up and policy directives on investments and dividend requirements would be developed.”The database in the skills profiles, qualifications and experience levels of board members will also be updated,” she stated.A project to improve the education of San children only received N$400 000, similar to last year.The Prime Minister’s Office will also spend N$50 million over the next three years to implement the e-governance policy framework.”We are convinced of the immense benefits which electronic and information and communication technology (ICT) usage can bring to many areas of public life in a developing country like electronic records and documentation management and the creation of community information centres.”Five million dollars will be added to the disaster fund, from which N$9,5 has already been paid out for Caprivi flood relief.The Emergency Management Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister has been upgraded to a directorate, she concluded.The Office of the Prime Minister will receive a total of N$115,7 million this financial year.