Additional budget to be tabled in December

THE National Assembly is expected to return for a two-week session on December 1 to debate the Additional Appropriation Bill – approving additional funding to Ministries that have not been able to cope on the money allocated to them in the main Budget.

Usually the Appropriation Bill is tabled in parliament during October, but the House has agreed to break to allow for campaigning ahead of the November elections. Once the bill is passed, the House will only sit again – during February and March – until the new parliamentarians are sworn in.On the last day of the tenth session, which ended on Thursday, the House passed a controversial bill entitling President Sam Nujoma to a retirement package inclusive of a pension, gratuity as well as material benefits such as housing, vehicles and staff to run his office and household.The last bill passed during the session was the Public Holidays Amendment Bill, which will change the name of the December 10 public holiday from Human Rights Day to the Day of the Namibian Women.The House passed 15 new bills during the session and had to reconsider the Labour Bill, which it originally passed earlier this year.Most of the amendments recommended by the National Council were agreed to last week.Once the bill is passed, the House will only sit again – during February and March – until the new parliamentarians are sworn in.On the last day of the tenth session, which ended on Thursday, the House passed a controversial bill entitling President Sam Nujoma to a retirement package inclusive of a pension, gratuity as well as material benefits such as housing, vehicles and staff to run his office and household.The last bill passed during the session was the Public Holidays Amendment Bill, which will change the name of the December 10 public holiday from Human Rights Day to the Day of the Namibian Women.The House passed 15 new bills during the session and had to reconsider the Labour Bill, which it originally passed earlier this year.Most of the amendments recommended by the National Council were agreed to last week.