National Council unhappy with its budget allocation

THE money allocated to the National Council in the 2006-2007 National Budget is “a bullet fired at it so that its functions can collapse”, a ruling party MP said on Wednesday.

Jhonny Hakaye said the N$26 million allocated to the House would make it difficult for the NC to perform its duties effectively and thus compromise the country’s democracy. “For years and years we have been singing the same song that democracy should not be compromised,” said Hakaye.He said it seemed that no one spoke on behalf of the National Council when the budget allocations were decided, because the NC chairperson was not a member of Cabinet.The National Assembly received an allocation of N$58 million in the National Budget.Hakaye said with such a small allocation, the NC’s standing committees would not be able to do their work.Another Swapo MP, Bartholomeus Shangheta, agreed, saying that the NC was “grossly underfunded”.The NC has six standing committee and only N$60 000 is allocated to each committee, which Shangheta said was not enough.”The allocation to the travel vote of the National Council is pathetic.Such small allocation will negatively affect the work of the National Council.It will paralyse this institution,” said Shangheta.In her contribution, Rosalia Sibiya (Swapo) said it was worrying that the NC’s budget had decreased while its work load had increased.Sebastian !Gobs of the United Democratic Front (UDF) said when considering the Additional Budget, Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila should consider adding money to the NC’s allocation.He said because of limited funds, the National Council last year had to turn down some international invitations.”This creates a bad image of the members of this respected House,” said !Gobs.Swapo’s Hafeni Ndemula said he did not support the budget allocation to the NC.”Something somewhere is wrong.Terribly wrong.The money is just not enough,” Ndemula told the House.He called on the NC Chairperson to take up the matter with Prime Minister Nahas Angula and Finance Minister Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.”For years and years we have been singing the same song that democracy should not be compromised,” said Hakaye.He said it seemed that no one spoke on behalf of the National Council when the budget allocations were decided, because the NC chairperson was not a member of Cabinet.The National Assembly received an allocation of N$58 million in the National Budget.Hakaye said with such a small allocation, the NC’s standing committees would not be able to do their work.Another Swapo MP, Bartholomeus Shangheta, agreed, saying that the NC was “grossly underfunded”.The NC has six standing committee and only N$60 000 is allocated to each committee, which Shangheta said was not enough.”The allocation to the travel vote of the National Council is pathetic.Such small allocation will negatively affect the work of the National Council.It will paralyse this institution,” said Shangheta.In her contribution, Rosalia Sibiya (Swapo) said it was worrying that the NC’s budget had decreased while its work load had increased.Sebastian !Gobs of the United Democratic Front (UDF) said when considering the Additional Budget, Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila should consider adding money to the NC’s allocation.He said because of limited funds, the National Council last year had to turn down some international invitations.”This creates a bad image of the members of this respected House,” said !Gobs.Swapo’s Hafeni Ndemula said he did not support the budget allocation to the NC.”Something somewhere is wrong.Terribly wrong.The money is just not enough,” Ndemula told the House. He called on the NC Chairperson to take up the matter with Prime Minister Nahas Angula and Finance Minister Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.