Lahja Nashuuta
Workers unions and employers federations have called for the dissolution of the Namibia Training Authority’s board, saying it was constituted in a flawed and illegal manner.
Their demand has been communicated to higher education minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi. Their wish, however, cannot be granted as it came too late, the minister
said at a media conference on Monday.
The unions comprise the Namibian Employers’ Federation (NEF), Namibia Employers’ Association (NEA), National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), and the Trade Union Congress of Namibia (Tucna).
Kandjii-Murangi stood her ground, maintaining that the composition of the NTA board is beyond reproach, and will continue to drive the authority’s affairs.
Clarifying matters surrounding the disputed board, she maintained that the appointment was conducted in accordance with the established protocols and legal frameworks.
The board members, she said, were appointed after a thorough vetting process.
“It is regrettable that concerns regarding the composition of the board have only been raised at this juncture, despite the board having been in operation for over a year. It is crucial to question the timing of those objections, and to consider whether they are driven by genuine concerns for the effective functioning of NTA or by other motives,” Kandjii-Murangi said.
On the board’s dissolution, she cautioned that the dismissal of a duly-appointed and functioning board would disrupt the continuity of operations at the NTA, thereby impeding service delivery.
“Such a course of action would be detrimental to the interest of all parties involved, and would not serve the best interests of the nation,” the minister emphasised.
She, however, reiterated her recommendation for the union, employers’ associations and the labour ministry to propose four candidates for consideration to the NTA board.
On Monday, Kandjii-Murangi did not take questions from journalists on the state of parastatals falling within the purview of her ministry.
Unacceptable
“The appointment of the NTA board of directors is unacceptable, and against both the Public Enterprises Governance Act as well as the NTA Act,” Tucna’s Mahongora Kavihuha said during an interview with New Era recently.
The unions and employers’ federations have given Kandjii-Murangi a 30-day ultimatum to dissolve the board, and replace it with a new one “that meets requisite legal requirements”.
According to them, the minister flouted procedures when she appointed the current board.
An industry expert said the NTA is led by persons with little to no technical and vocational education and training experience, a gross violation of provisions of the Public Enterprises Governance Act as well as the Vocational Education and Training Act.
Former NTA acting CEO Muvatera Ndjoze-Siririka also raised the alarm last year.
Ndjoze-Siririka was particularly annoyed by the fact that the private sector, the sole contributor to the technical, vocational education and training levy, does not have representation on the board. “It must be admitted that the minister has committed a grave mistake. It is only honourable on her [Kandjii-Murangi] part to abolish this board of clowns, and start the process anew. She must also remember in whatever she does, the private sector must dominate the board membership, and a credible chair from the private sector is to be appointed,” he told New Era then.
Now, it appears, the unions and employers’ federations are singing from this hymn book, labelling the Jerome Mutumba-led board “illegal”.
According to the unions, the Act is clear that the NTA board must consist of 11 members, of which five must be nominated by employer representatives, two trade union representatives, three representing the government and a representative of the Namibia Qualifications Authority.
Kandjii-Murangi stands accused of having ignored all these legal provisions when she appointed the board over a year ago.
“It is unknown to either of these bodies on what basis the directors were appointed, and whose interests they represent,” Kavihuha charged.
“Various unions, as well as the ministry of labour and employment-creation, have been writing letters to the minister since last year, expressing concern about the unprocedural appointment of the new NTA board, and requesting for an urgent dissolution of the board,” Kavihuha said.
In one of her rare responses to them, Kandjii-Murangi conceded that unprocedural appointments occurred, which she attributed to “an oversight”.
“In that letter, the minister requested the employer and trade union representatives to each propose four candidates, of whom two from each stakeholder group would be
appointed. The proposal was rejected by the trade unions and employers’ federations, as it did not conform to the requirements of the VET Act,” Kavihuha said.
Demands
The unions are unambiguous in their demands. They want the immediate dissolution of the current board, and the immediate appointment of a new one that conforms with the Act.
The unions further called for the immediate reversal of any resolutions taken by the “illegal board”, the publication of the last audited financial statements of the NTA, and a detailed presentation of the financials to key stakeholders.
– lnashuuta@gmail.com