The proposed new travel allowances will see the secretary to Cabinet and executive director (ED) earn N$2 500 and N$2 300 per day, respectively, when travelling to the regions.
A low ranking civil servant will earn N$1 780.
Currently the secretary to Cabinet earns N$969 per day for a trip in the regions, while an ED earns N$899 for the same trip.
These are part of the proposed subsistence and travel (S&T) allowances for civil servants effective 1 April 2025.
These details were announced by the ED in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), I-Ben Nashandi on Monday.
Although Nashandi did not go into detail regarding how much S&T will be increased, he said maternity benefits are also under review. S&T benefits have not been reviewed since 2008.
Nashandi told The Namibian yesterday that the details of the review have been communicated to
the respective offices, ministries, agencies, and organisations of the government.
The OPM also said a detailed circular will be issued this week to civil servants.
The new circular shows the new rates will be as follows: EDs, chiefs and the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia will earn N$2 300, deputy EDs will earn N$2 100, and deputy directors and chair board members will earn N$2 000.
Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani has criticised the decision by the OPM to increase allowances for civil servants.
He says the government should avoid creating luxuries at the expense of the Namibian people given that about 25% of Namibians earning an income spend only N$521 monthly, while 90% cannot afford more than N$5 000, reflecting widespread financial struggles.
“I await that adjustment to see what that looks like. We must not create an opulence governance while Namibians are suffering,” says Venaani.
For this financial year, the government has budgeted about N$506 million for S&Ts.
In 2017 while addressing his staff, former president Hage Geingob raised concerns about S&T being used as a cash cow by civil servants, stating that he had heard reports of people fighting over trips.
EMPTY PROMISES
Political analyst Henning Melber says the increase comes at the wrong time given the prevalence of poverty, the impact of the drought and the high unemployment rate affecting the majority of the population.
Melber adds that the increase sends the wrong message to those earning less than N$ 5 000 a month, as revealed in the labour survey, and questioned why the government does not rather invest in more efficient social policies.
He says such increments create even greater temptations for those in office to abuse fringe benefits.
He highlights the contradiction between this decision and the promises made in election manifestos where leaders promised to create new employment opportunities.
“It’s another sign that Namibians are living in a society which actually promotes the rich and makes sure that the rich or the well-off get even better off while those at the margins remain at the margins.”
Public policy analyst Marius Kudumo says the increase in S&T allowances reinforces the perception that the government is insensitive to the needs of the unemployed and society in general.
“It must also be considered against the backdrop of high unemployment, growing social and economic inequalities and deteriorating public services,” he says.
Kudumo adds that this does not align with the need for modest fiscal spending and living within available means required during economic difficulties.
However, Oshikoto regional education director Aletta Eises says the S&T increase is long overdue, citing that the current rate is not in line with the economic changes.
Eises states that travel allowances are meant to support a staff member on official work trips, covering expenses such as accommodation and meals while away from their assigned duty station.
The old rate, she points out, presented many challenges, stating that one sometimes had to consider whether to sleep in one’s vehicle in order to eat a decent meal.
“The new rate is absolutely welcomed as the bed and breakfast facilities are not coming cheap. The OPM should be applauded for this great strategic move and acting in the interest of the employees.”
Rally for Democracy and Progress president Mike Kavekotora and former member of parliament says the announcement of the daily subsistence allowance will help many civil servants’ pockets.
Kavekotora explains that in some instances, civil servants have to use their own resources to cover expenses while on official trips.
“I have seen civil servants going on official trips abroad and booking themselves in deplorable accommodations,” he says.
However, he cautions against making adjustments to S&T without encouraging financial discipline.
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