Car scheme, what car scheme? NAC takes issue with corruption claims

THE Namibia Airports Company (NAC) broke its silence yesterday on allegations that some of its managers are enriching themselves through a suspect vehicle scheme, saying that it doesn’t have a vehicle scheme to begin with.

On Monday, New Era reported that sources within the NAC had exposed three managers who were allegedly benefiting double from a vehicle scheme the NAC has in place for its managers – buying cars on the scheme, while still having company cars allocated to them for full-time use. “No vehicle scheme exists within NAC,” Company Secretary and Corporate Legal Advisor Sacky Kadhila Amoomo said in yesterday’s reply.”The NAC denies the allegations pertaining to self-enrichment made in the report.The employees referred to fall within job grades in respect whereof a ‘cafeteria salary package’ applies.”What this means, says NAC Senior Manager for Corporate Communication Sikongo Haihambo, is that employees are granted a remuneration package, which they can divide as they deem appropriate, for example allocating a part to a housing or car allowance.”Pool vehicles were in fact allocated to the positions occupied by the employees in question due to operational requirements and the nature of the duties they perform,” the statement continues.The NAC said that the matter had been raised before internally, and it had been resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, including the recognised trade union.When contacted for comment yesterday, Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) General Secretary Peter Nevonga did not sound satisfied with the union’s talks with the NAC.”We have a recognition agreement with the Airports Company up to a certain level,” Nevonga said, adding that employees from management level upwards were not involved in the bargaining unit with the union.The NAC yesterday called the car-allowance issue a “benign” internal matter, which is being “regrettably sensationalised” by the media.”No vehicle scheme exists within NAC,” Company Secretary and Corporate Legal Advisor Sacky Kadhila Amoomo said in yesterday’s reply.”The NAC denies the allegations pertaining to self-enrichment made in the report.The employees referred to fall within job grades in respect whereof a ‘cafeteria salary package’ applies.”What this means, says NAC Senior Manager for Corporate Communication Sikongo Haihambo, is that employees are granted a remuneration package, which they can divide as they deem appropriate, for example allocating a part to a housing or car allowance.”Pool vehicles were in fact allocated to the positions occupied by the employees in question due to operational requirements and the nature of the duties they perform,” the statement continues.The NAC said that the matter had been raised before internally, and it had been resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, including the recognised trade union.When contacted for comment yesterday, Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) General Secretary Peter Nevonga did not sound satisfied with the union’s talks with the NAC.”We have a recognition agreement with the Airports Company up to a certain level,” Nevonga said, adding that employees from management level upwards were not involved in the bargaining unit with the union.The NAC yesterday called the car-allowance issue a “benign” internal matter, which is being “regrettably sensationalised” by the media.