RA suspends worker amid overpayment claims
The Roads Authority (RA) last week suspended an employee who raised red flags about a project the agency allegedly overpaid for, and claimed it compromised safety on the country’s accident-prone roads.
RA senior specialist of traffic surveillance, Teklu Adamu, was shown the door last Friday.
The suspension was effected on the same day Namibian Sun reported about Adamu’s concerns, which he communicated to the road agency’s management. He also accused his superior Sophie Tekie of wasting N$12 million on a failed road project.
“Due to the investigation of serious allegations against yourself, you are hereby suspended from duty in accordance with your conditions of service,” his suspension letter read.
Just two days prior to him being given the boot, RA spokesperson Hileni Fillemon told this publication Adamu’s matter had been concluded after an internal probe was conducted.
It is understood the matter was finalised in 2020 after a disciplinary process, which led to Adamu receiving a warning.
Serious misconduct
“The post-project evaluation has established that the project was not successful in meeting its objectives. Besides its financial implications, which is in order of N$12 million, the outcome of the kilometre marker project has caused safety concerns amongst road users,” Adamu said in his initial report to management.
His allegations are based on a post-project review he did voluntarily on a failed kilometre marker road project completed during the 2017 and 2018 financial years by the roads management system division of RA.
Adamu also questioned Tekie’s appointment as president of the Engineering Council of Namibia (ECN).
He declined to comment on the suspension, while Fillemon said he was suspended for alleged serious misconduct in accordance with the RA’s industrial relations policy and grievance procedures.
She further said the suspension is not linked to the kilometre marker project investigation article carried by Namibian Sun, but refused to divulge the exact reasons for his suspension, or the charges against him.
Internal matter
“As mentioned, the grounds of Mr Adamu’s suspension are an internal matter. It is important to make it clear that as per the RA’s industrial relations policy and grievance procedures, a supervisor has the full right to suspend a subordinate pending an investigation.
"Mr Adamu was suspended by his immediate supervisor. The suspension was brought to the CEO on Friday, 9 September, after 17:00 and he has requested for a report on the matter,” Fillemon said.
Tekie declined to comment on the suspension and instead referred questions to the authority’s CEO, Conrad Lutombi.
“I do not speak to the media directly. Please put your questions to the CEO. Let us all be professionals and follow protocol. I cannot disclose information not authorised officially to you.
“You got your official answer and the matter is now with the CEO’s office,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lutombi said he is not involved in the matter, since Adamu is a junior staff member and suspensions are done at line manager level and not through the CEO’s office.
“I only learnt about that at 17:00 that day, when Ms. Tekie informed me about it. I have asked for a detailed report including the charges, which they haven’t given to me yet,” he said.
Red flags
In his voluntary review of the project, Adamu found that its cost was inflated, with the consultant Element Consulting Engineers allegedly paid N$1.7 million instead of the contracted N$1.2 million.
According to him, the consultant was contracted upon Tekie’s request and it is unclear whether their proposal was properly scrutinised.
He has also lodged a complaint with the ECN in this regard, pointing out that members of the council are expected to practice their profession in a manner that does not compromise the safety and economic well-being of society.
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RA senior specialist of traffic surveillance, Teklu Adamu, was shown the door last Friday.
The suspension was effected on the same day Namibian Sun reported about Adamu’s concerns, which he communicated to the road agency’s management. He also accused his superior Sophie Tekie of wasting N$12 million on a failed road project.
“Due to the investigation of serious allegations against yourself, you are hereby suspended from duty in accordance with your conditions of service,” his suspension letter read.
Just two days prior to him being given the boot, RA spokesperson Hileni Fillemon told this publication Adamu’s matter had been concluded after an internal probe was conducted.
It is understood the matter was finalised in 2020 after a disciplinary process, which led to Adamu receiving a warning.
Serious misconduct
“The post-project evaluation has established that the project was not successful in meeting its objectives. Besides its financial implications, which is in order of N$12 million, the outcome of the kilometre marker project has caused safety concerns amongst road users,” Adamu said in his initial report to management.
His allegations are based on a post-project review he did voluntarily on a failed kilometre marker road project completed during the 2017 and 2018 financial years by the roads management system division of RA.
Adamu also questioned Tekie’s appointment as president of the Engineering Council of Namibia (ECN).
He declined to comment on the suspension, while Fillemon said he was suspended for alleged serious misconduct in accordance with the RA’s industrial relations policy and grievance procedures.
She further said the suspension is not linked to the kilometre marker project investigation article carried by Namibian Sun, but refused to divulge the exact reasons for his suspension, or the charges against him.
Internal matter
“As mentioned, the grounds of Mr Adamu’s suspension are an internal matter. It is important to make it clear that as per the RA’s industrial relations policy and grievance procedures, a supervisor has the full right to suspend a subordinate pending an investigation.
"Mr Adamu was suspended by his immediate supervisor. The suspension was brought to the CEO on Friday, 9 September, after 17:00 and he has requested for a report on the matter,” Fillemon said.
Tekie declined to comment on the suspension and instead referred questions to the authority’s CEO, Conrad Lutombi.
“I do not speak to the media directly. Please put your questions to the CEO. Let us all be professionals and follow protocol. I cannot disclose information not authorised officially to you.
“You got your official answer and the matter is now with the CEO’s office,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lutombi said he is not involved in the matter, since Adamu is a junior staff member and suspensions are done at line manager level and not through the CEO’s office.
“I only learnt about that at 17:00 that day, when Ms. Tekie informed me about it. I have asked for a detailed report including the charges, which they haven’t given to me yet,” he said.
Red flags
In his voluntary review of the project, Adamu found that its cost was inflated, with the consultant Element Consulting Engineers allegedly paid N$1.7 million instead of the contracted N$1.2 million.
According to him, the consultant was contracted upon Tekie’s request and it is unclear whether their proposal was properly scrutinised.
He has also lodged a complaint with the ECN in this regard, pointing out that members of the council are expected to practice their profession in a manner that does not compromise the safety and economic well-being of society.
[email protected]
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