Africa-Press – Namibia. THE executive director of the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (Nipam) says she is yet to receive a suspension letter.
Maria Nangolo was suspended on Friday after she left the office for lunch.
She says she was at work during the morning, attending an audit and risk committee meeting.
Nangolo says she received the news about her suspension through the media while visiting a local hospital.
“I left for lunch and thereafter heard about my so-called suspension through social media,” she says.
Nangolo’s suspension letter was allegedly taken to one of her houses where she does not reside.
Sources at Nipam say the letter was delivered to a tenant who refused to sign it and advised that Nangolo be contacted directly.
The governance council in a media statement said Nangolo was suspended to allow an independent and transparent investigation into allegations related to her conduct.
The council allegedly suspended Nangolo before obtaining authorisation from the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises.
It allegedly only received authorisation on Monday.
Minister of finance and public enterprises Iipumbu Shiimi referred questions to Nipam chairperson George Simataa.
Simataa on Friday announced Nangolo’s suspension and the appointment of Sankwasa Mubita as acting executive director from 17 March.
Employees were not allowed access to Nipam’s premises from Friday until Monday.
Mubita sent a message to the employees on Friday evening, saying access would be granted from 06h30 on Monday.
“Should you need access to the building during the weekend, there will be an access protocol at the gate. This is done in the best interests of Nipam,” the message read.
SUSPENSION TRIGGERS
A source at Nipam says Nangolo’s suspension could have been triggered by a letter she wrote to the minister about procurement issues on the appointment of an internal audit firm.
Nangolo was allegedly instructed to give the internal audit tender to a firm which was more expensive than others.
Additionally, she also wrote a letter to Simataa on 16 March complaining about the interference of the remuneration committee in Nipam’s operational affairs.
This is after the committee rescinded a decision for staff reorganisation.
Nangolo in the letter mentions interference in the operations of the institution.
“The act does not confer power upon the remuneration committee or other Nipam committees regarding the reassignment of Nipam staff members to other designations within the service of Nipam,” she said.
The sources describe the events around Nangolo’s suspension as victimisation because she allegedly refused to comply with the council’s demands.
Members of the Special Field Force and the police were present at Nipam, supposedly to deny her entry should she have returned to work on Friday.
Simataa did not respond to messages sent to him via SMS and WhatsApp, or through vice chairperson Nashilongo Shivute.
Nangolo, whose term ends in June, has indicated she is not seeking a second term.
Reflecting on her five-year tenure, she said she has achieved a lot.
“Nipam clients no longer receive certificates of attendance, they receive accredited postgraduate diplomas, diplomas and certificates. This was achieved under my tenure,” she said.
Nangolo said under her leadership Nipam has become the consulting arm of the government.
“I will leave Nipam on the right path and trust my predecessor will take it to greater heights, provided that Nipam recruits a person with the right educational qualifications and experience to manage the institution,” she said.
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
