Govt halts internship directive over public service rule conflict

The finance ministry is amending parts of a directive that required public institutions to each create 65 internship positions, saying aspects of the circular relating to allowances were not in line with existing public service regulations.

The directive, contained in Circular No. 01 of 2025 and issued by then executive director Michael Humavindu in April 2025, instructed all state ministries, offices and agencies (OMAs), regional councils and local authorities to budget for 15 apprenticeship trainees and 25 interns at a monthly allowance of N$2 500 each for six months. Twenty-five graduate interns would be paid N$3 500 per month for two years.

Institutions with funding constraints were directed to reprioritise resources from training budgets and travel allowances to finance the programme.

However, in a new circular seen by this publication and issued on 29 May, executive director Oscar Capelao announced the withdrawal of the directive with immediate effect.

"In compliance with the guidance from the Office of the Prime Minister and to ensure adherence to the provisions of the Public Service Act, 1995, and the Public Service Staff Rules, Circular No. 01 of 2025 is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect," Capelao noted.

The circular instructs OMAs, regional councils and local authorities to disregard the previous directive and comply with existing public service staff rules governing internship programmes.

While the finance ministry did not elaborate on the specific provisions that conflicted with public service regulations, spokesperson Wilson Shikoto told Namibian Sun the problem lay in aspects of the circular that were inconsistent with existing staff rules.

"There is nothing wrong with this circular," Shikoto said, adding that the directive was suspended because some of the remuneration and employment conditions it prescribed were not in line with the Public Service Staff Rules.

Internships continue

Shikoto stressed that the withdrawal does not signal the end of internship programmes.

"The internship is ongoing. The internship will go on, but you will be paid according to the staff rule, not according to that instruction," he said.

Shikoto clarified that the allowances in the directive were not "applicable by the staff rule".

He added that internship programmes will be administered in accordance with existing legal frameworks.

"That's why we have to redo it correctly. That's why we have to suspend that, but we have to do it the right way. The staff rule remains, unless we have to change the staff rules," he said.