Govt’s bloated wage bill spent on ‘unproductive’ workers

NAMIBIA’S public service workforce has increased to 119 000 employees, with analysts warning about reduced productivity and a wage bill projected to reach 38%.

This follows prime minister Elijah Ngurare on Monday at a staff meeting announcing that the public service workforce has increased to 118 936 employees as at 31 December.

He said the public wage bill catered for approximately 107 000 civil servants in 2024.

Political analyst Sakaria Johannes says the government might end up spending more on unproductive workers.

“It is a well-known issue already that many government employees seem to be relaxed and not really competent, compared to private sector workers,” he says.

Given an increased wage bill, Johannes says chances are the country could experience low productivity and poor service delivery.

National Council parliamentarian Kennedy Simasiku says the current budget projected spending of 35% on the public sector wage bill, which could increase to up to 38% in the 2026/27 financial year.

“The sad reality is that the government has social programmes like schools, hospitals, army, police, general administration etc. For the government to fulfil its promises and mandate it has to employ human resources, which comes at a price,” he says.

Simasiku says president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s ‘business unusual’ mantra is a call to employees to pull up their socks.

He says although an increased public sector wage bill could lead to borrowing to fill gaps in the development budget, it remains necessary.
This, however, calls for diversified revenue sources.
“It is a delicate balancing act and it requires that the private sector equally create employment opportunities to assist the government,” Simasiku says.

Ngurare on Monday said government employees must deliver services effectively while contributing to broader economic participation and creating opportunities – particularly for unemployed young professionals.

“The sixth National Development Plan, strategic and annual plans serve as roadmaps for service delivery. I believe these must be implemented with a focus on humanity rather than technicalities,” he said.
Ngurare said the public service must play a central role in fostering innovation, economic participation and skills development across both urban and rural communities.

“I fervently believe the greatness of our country must be measured through the recognition of the talent and creativity of our people. We must embrace this in both the private and public sectors.
“As a public service, we must therefore continue to create opportunities for the technological, scientific and economic advancement of all our people,” he said.

The prime minister highlighted ongoing youth-focused interventions, including the subsidised tertiary education programme and the operationalisation of the National Youth Development Fund.

He said more than N$257 million has been allocated to the fund for the current financial year.
Labour-intensive programmes involving technical and vocational education and training trainees are being rolled out to maintain schools, clinics and other public infrastructure, Ngurare said, while the local procurement of goods and services remains a key driver of job creation.

He said Namibia has developed the capacity to extend basic services nationwide since independence.

According to the Public Service Commission, the public service cost the state about N$35.4 billion annually, including benefits, when it comprised 107 000 employees.

The previous administration had urged the commission to examine options to reduce the size of the government workforce, arguing that the existing headcount had become financially unsustainable. – Additional reporting by The Brief

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.