Windhoek
There is currently no law that provides for the remuneration of the vice-president.
Presidential Affairs Minister Frans Kapofi yesterday acknowledged that there has been a delay in amending the President Remuneration and Other Benefits Act of 2012, which would legally stipulate the remuneration package and benefits of Vice-President Nickey Iyambo. Kapofi was responding to questions from the official opposition, DTA, which earlier this month requested that the salary grading of all presidential advisors, as well as the salary of the vice-president (VP), be made public. Kapofi was at pains to explain the legal basis on which the VP – who has been in office since March – is currently paid.
“At present, the remuneration and benefits of the president and his or her spouse are catered for by the President Remuneration and Other Benefits Act of 2012,”
Kapofi told lawmakers in the National Assembly. “However, this law does not provide for the remuneration and benefits of the vice-president.”
The office of vice-president was created last year after a number of changes were made to the Constitution.
Kapofi said the VP’s salary is 10 percent higher than that of the prime minister (PM), who currently earns around N$1.2 million per annum, meaning the VP earns around N$1.3 million over the same timeframe – or about N$110 000 per month. Kapofi did not explain the criteria used to determine that the VP should be paid 10 percent more than the PM.
“After considering the recommendations by the POBC [Public Office-Bearers Remuneration and Benefits Commission], the president has determined that, with effect from March 21, 2015, the basic salary payable to the vice-president of the Republic of Namibia to be ten percent above the remuneration payable to the prime minister,” Kapofi said.
The DTA also wanted to know when government intended to table a bill in parliament so that lawmakers can determine what the salary of the VP should be. In response, Kapofi indicated that the President Remuneration and Other Benefits Bill has been drafted and would be tabled during the current session of parliament.
DTA MP Vikuapuje Muharukua, while presenting a follow-up question, remarked that the VP was “being paid illegally”. Deputy Speaker Loide Kasingo, however, forced him to withdraw the remark, an instruction he readily complied with.
The opposition also enquired about the salaries of presidential advisors, but Kapofi declined to disclose their earnings.
President Geingob earlier this year appointed several advisors, including Dr John Steytler (economic advisor), Albertus Aochamub (press secretary), Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi (constitutional advisor and private sector interface), Penny Akwenye (policy advisor on implementation and monitoring) and Daisry Mathias (youth and enterprise development).
All were drawn from high-earning jobs within the private and public sector, where they received salaries of close to N$1 million and more per annum. New Era understands that several advisors have since taken a pay cut on their previous salaries, but were accorded attractive fringe benefits to make up for their losses.
Kapofi said the advisors enjoy certain perks, such as a housing allowance, transport and medical aid benefits, as approved by the POBC. To assertions that government has allowed a breach of the pay cap it put in place for high-earners in the public sector, Kapofi retorted by saying “skills come at a cost”.
The minister hinted that some of the advisors receive salaries that exceed those of most public office-bearers, saying “they have served in capacities where they were remunerated well beyond the current packages”. Despite warnings from the DTA last week that it would take the government to court should it fail to disclose accurate salary figures, Kapofi did not acquiesce to such threats.
“The specifics of the conditions of service constitute private and confidential information. However, should the honourable member require these specifics, the information will be provided to him,” he said.
“Getting people with the requisite skills and committed to the task at hand comes with a cost, but this is an investment worth making,” he said.