2014-12-18Mathias Haufiku By Mathias Haufiku WINDHOEK - Following a recommendation by the Secretary to Cabinet Frans Kapofi, the National Assembly has extended Jakes Jacobs’ tenure as secretary to enable him to “finalise some pending parliamentary matters” before he retires. Kapofi on Tuesday confirmed making the recommendation in September because Jacobs, who was about to retire after he turned 60 earlier this year, had to finalise some pressing parliamentary matters. “It is true that I made the recommendation because there were a few incomplete things. I recommended that he stays on for six months or a year. There is nothing illegitimate about the extension. Although he wanted to retire in September he could not leave things incomplete,” said Kapofi. Sources within the National Assembly however told New Era that Jacobs was asked to stay on because the current assembly ends only on March 21 2015, hence Jacobs should stay on and continue with the secretariat activities of the national legislature. According to the country’s Constitution, subject to the provisions of the laws pertaining to the public service and the directives of the National Assembly, the Speaker shall appoint a person or designate a person in the public service to serve as the Secretary of the National Assembly. “The Secretary shall perform the functions and duties as assigned by the Constitution or by the Speaker. Subject to the laws governing the control of public monies, the Secretary shall perform his or her functions and duties under the control of the Speaker,” reads a section of the Constitution. On Monday, Jacobs would not divulge by how long his term in office has been extended, only stating that “parliament asked me to stay on in September”. Efforts to get hold of National Assembly Speaker Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab to ascertain the period by which Jacobs’ term has been extended were not successful as his mobile phone went unanswered. Jacobs is the fifth secretary of the National Assembly. Andre Kilian was the country’s first secretary to the National Assembly after serving in that position from 1990-1996 succeeded by Stephanie Winson (1997-2000), Moses Ndjarakana (2001-2005) and Simon Goabab (2006-2009). 2014-12-18Mathias Haufiku
