Sankwasa approves Ondangwa CEO pay hike, council complies with S&T directive
Urban and rural development minister Sankwasa James Sankwasa has approved the salary of Ondangwa CEO Ismael Namgongo, which was initially authorised without ministerial consent.
The local authority has also complied with Sankwasa’s directive to scrap its self-designed subsistence and travel (S&T) allowance policy, which exceeded the rates gazetted by the state.
This was confirmed by Ondangwa Town Council spokesperson Petrina Shitalangaho-Mutikisha.
Last month, Sankwasa visited Ondangwa and expressed his disappointment with local authority councillors for approving Namgongo’s salary without ministerial consent.
Ondangwa mayor Ester Auala and management committee chairperson Julia Kapia explained that the salary adjustment was made after Namgongo received an offer last year to become a deputy executive director in one of the ministries.
They said the council acted to retain him and had consulted salary levels at Oshakati and Ongwediva town councils before approving the raise.
Auala said they had written to then minister Erastus Uutoni but received no response before Namgongo was due to take up his new job, leaving the council with no choice but to act.
Compliance
Sankwasa said the council was wrong to adjust Namgongo’s salary without ministerial consent and urged them to resubmit the request for his approval.
Shitalangaho-Mutikisha explained that the council took note of Sankwasa’s advice and submitted a new request.
She said that on 14 October, Sankwasa responded and approved the salary hike.
Shitalangaho-Mutikisha also confirmed that the S&T policy has been amended.
“Ondangwa Town Council has also fully complied with the directive by implementing the newly gazetted government rates for S&T allowances."
Between September 2022 and June 2023, council paid out N$1.23 million in allowances under this policy.
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The local authority has also complied with Sankwasa’s directive to scrap its self-designed subsistence and travel (S&T) allowance policy, which exceeded the rates gazetted by the state.
This was confirmed by Ondangwa Town Council spokesperson Petrina Shitalangaho-Mutikisha.
Last month, Sankwasa visited Ondangwa and expressed his disappointment with local authority councillors for approving Namgongo’s salary without ministerial consent.
Ondangwa mayor Ester Auala and management committee chairperson Julia Kapia explained that the salary adjustment was made after Namgongo received an offer last year to become a deputy executive director in one of the ministries.
They said the council acted to retain him and had consulted salary levels at Oshakati and Ongwediva town councils before approving the raise.
Auala said they had written to then minister Erastus Uutoni but received no response before Namgongo was due to take up his new job, leaving the council with no choice but to act.
Compliance
Sankwasa said the council was wrong to adjust Namgongo’s salary without ministerial consent and urged them to resubmit the request for his approval.
Shitalangaho-Mutikisha explained that the council took note of Sankwasa’s advice and submitted a new request.
She said that on 14 October, Sankwasa responded and approved the salary hike.
Shitalangaho-Mutikisha also confirmed that the S&T policy has been amended.
“Ondangwa Town Council has also fully complied with the directive by implementing the newly gazetted government rates for S&T allowances."
Between September 2022 and June 2023, council paid out N$1.23 million in allowances under this policy.
[email protected]
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