Fat salaries proposed at Namra
Namra head Sam Shivute says the proposed astronomical salaries at the new agency are commensurate with the task of collecting billions in state revenues.
TUYEIMO HAIDULA
OSHAKATI
Management at newly launched Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra) have proposed high salaries for the themselves and the organisation’s employees – including a maximum of N$2.7 million for its commissioner, Sam Shivute.
Launched in April this year, the agency will serve as a semi-autonomous agency of government tasked to assess tax and collect state revenue under the supervision of the ministry of finance.
Executives at the agency will be among the top earners in the public enterprise space after the entity was categorised as a ‘tier three’ state-owned enterprise.
A management submission to the board of directors – seen by Namibian Sun – shows that if the maximum proposal is approved, Shivute will earn N$225 000 a month.
If the board approves the minimum annual salary proposed – of N$2.4 million – Shivute will earn just above N$200 000 a month.
Senior managers serving in the agency’s executive committee (exco) can earn up N$170 000 a month – or N$2.05 million a year.
The proposal suggests a maximum of N$1.3 million annually for the agency’s directors and N$927 000 annually for highest-earning middle managers.
Drivers at the agency will earn N$250 000 annually if the proposal is approved, while cleaners would be pegged at N$213 000 annually.
While the government has clamped down on the pay of public service bosses, no brakes have been applied to many state-owned enterprises despite many constantly knocking on the door of treasury for financial assistance.
‘Investment’
Shivute, a former Bank of Namibia executive, yesterday defended the proposed salaries as deserved under the circumstances.
“It is clear that we are going through economically trying times, however such times demand that the government put more efforts in revenue collection and increasing efficiency,” he said.
“That requires that more investment is made in resources, including human resources, which must be commensurate to the task at hand. Namra aims to do just that and salaries are within the threshold for public enterprises.”
“Do Namra employees need this money to execute their mandate? The Namra organisational structure is relative to its mandate and has been benchmarked with similar agencies operating in comparable economies,” Shivute added.
He also hit back at suggestions that the new agency has a bloated staff, saying: “The suggestion of being bloated can only be sustained if compared to similar entities and same responsibilities.”
OSHAKATI
Management at newly launched Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra) have proposed high salaries for the themselves and the organisation’s employees – including a maximum of N$2.7 million for its commissioner, Sam Shivute.
Launched in April this year, the agency will serve as a semi-autonomous agency of government tasked to assess tax and collect state revenue under the supervision of the ministry of finance.
Executives at the agency will be among the top earners in the public enterprise space after the entity was categorised as a ‘tier three’ state-owned enterprise.
A management submission to the board of directors – seen by Namibian Sun – shows that if the maximum proposal is approved, Shivute will earn N$225 000 a month.
If the board approves the minimum annual salary proposed – of N$2.4 million – Shivute will earn just above N$200 000 a month.
Senior managers serving in the agency’s executive committee (exco) can earn up N$170 000 a month – or N$2.05 million a year.
The proposal suggests a maximum of N$1.3 million annually for the agency’s directors and N$927 000 annually for highest-earning middle managers.
Drivers at the agency will earn N$250 000 annually if the proposal is approved, while cleaners would be pegged at N$213 000 annually.
While the government has clamped down on the pay of public service bosses, no brakes have been applied to many state-owned enterprises despite many constantly knocking on the door of treasury for financial assistance.
‘Investment’
Shivute, a former Bank of Namibia executive, yesterday defended the proposed salaries as deserved under the circumstances.
“It is clear that we are going through economically trying times, however such times demand that the government put more efforts in revenue collection and increasing efficiency,” he said.
“That requires that more investment is made in resources, including human resources, which must be commensurate to the task at hand. Namra aims to do just that and salaries are within the threshold for public enterprises.”
“Do Namra employees need this money to execute their mandate? The Namra organisational structure is relative to its mandate and has been benchmarked with similar agencies operating in comparable economies,” Shivute added.
He also hit back at suggestions that the new agency has a bloated staff, saying: “The suggestion of being bloated can only be sustained if compared to similar entities and same responsibilities.”
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