Curb aimless travel, wastage - Nghipondoka
The new minister of education, during her maiden address to staff, said she will usher in a new era of discipline.
JUSTICIA SHIPENA
WINDHOEK
Education minister Anna Nghipondoka on Friday told staff to curb the wastage of resources and aimless travel which do not add value to the functions of the ministry.
She added that acquiring services without considering prices, often fuelled by corruption, as well as the purchasing of luxurious office furniture are things she wants employees to make a U-turn on.
She made these remarks during her maiden address.
Nghipondoka said the ministry will be working on maximising resources for internal efficiency for the next five years.
High bills
According to her, the ministry should look into work ethics and commitment to ensure improved service delivery.
Nghipondoka added that it is high time the ministry focuses on the wastage of resources.
“Why do we have such high utility bills?” she asked, adding that “there is a lot that can be done to bring down water and electricity bills”.
“Public servants, we are coined to be people who just travel for S&T [subsistence and travel allowance]. We are not saying people should not travel, but travel should have an aim and a product at the end of the day.
“Travel and come back with a report and implementable findings,” she said.
Negotiate prices
Acquiring services without the consideration of prices happens when procedures are not followed, because supplier entities often belong to friends, she noted.
“Staff members don't even look at the price because they are benefiting from that price.”
“It is high time we negotiate prices, don't just grab,” she urged.
Nghipondoka further added that the ministry “must stop being a source of funding for everyone else who wants to take advantage of us”.
Time management
She said she has observed that time management is an area that needs a seriously revamp in the ministry.
“Here we are more relaxed. I come to the office the time I want, leave when I feel like leaving and everybody has a child to be picked [up] or dropped [off] at school and be fed before you come back to the office at 16:00 when you left at 12:00.”
She called on staff to be punctual.
“Usually, I am here at 08:00 and if you go around the corridors, 90% of the offices are closed. Let us manage our time properly,” she said.
WINDHOEK
Education minister Anna Nghipondoka on Friday told staff to curb the wastage of resources and aimless travel which do not add value to the functions of the ministry.
She added that acquiring services without considering prices, often fuelled by corruption, as well as the purchasing of luxurious office furniture are things she wants employees to make a U-turn on.
She made these remarks during her maiden address.
Nghipondoka said the ministry will be working on maximising resources for internal efficiency for the next five years.
High bills
According to her, the ministry should look into work ethics and commitment to ensure improved service delivery.
Nghipondoka added that it is high time the ministry focuses on the wastage of resources.
“Why do we have such high utility bills?” she asked, adding that “there is a lot that can be done to bring down water and electricity bills”.
“Public servants, we are coined to be people who just travel for S&T [subsistence and travel allowance]. We are not saying people should not travel, but travel should have an aim and a product at the end of the day.
“Travel and come back with a report and implementable findings,” she said.
Negotiate prices
Acquiring services without the consideration of prices happens when procedures are not followed, because supplier entities often belong to friends, she noted.
“Staff members don't even look at the price because they are benefiting from that price.”
“It is high time we negotiate prices, don't just grab,” she urged.
Nghipondoka further added that the ministry “must stop being a source of funding for everyone else who wants to take advantage of us”.
Time management
She said she has observed that time management is an area that needs a seriously revamp in the ministry.
“Here we are more relaxed. I come to the office the time I want, leave when I feel like leaving and everybody has a child to be picked [up] or dropped [off] at school and be fed before you come back to the office at 16:00 when you left at 12:00.”
She called on staff to be punctual.
“Usually, I am here at 08:00 and if you go around the corridors, 90% of the offices are closed. Let us manage our time properly,” she said.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article