Renthia Kaimbi
Following the secondment of Ben Nangombe to lead the Social Security Commission (SSC) last week, sources have come forward in support of the salary reforms proposed by justice and labour relations minister, Fillemon Wise Immanuel, revealing a skewed remuneration structure that sees the lowest earners at the commission taking home more than teachers on a cost-to-company basis.
Sources close to the matter revealed to the Windhoek Observer that the commission’s cleaners earn a monthly salary of approximately N$18 000, while messenger drivers and switchboard operators take home around N$20 000 and N$22 000 on a monthly basis respectively.
These figures highlight the vast disparity between the commission’s salary structure and other public sector roles, with sources confirming that the lowest earners at the SSC allegedly earn more than teachers on a cost-to-company basis.
The revelations come as Nangombe prepares to take the helm with a mandate to overhaul the institution’s remuneration structure, improve member benefits and drive key social security reforms, with his appointment effective 1 August forming part of Immanuel’s implementation of cabinet’s broader plan to reposition the SSC as a more member-centred institution.
Nangombe himself is expected to earn around N1.5 million, while general managers take home between N$1.9 million to N$2.2 million annually, with management and mid-management annual salaries ranging between N$1.2 million and N$1.7 million.
Other officials, including cleaners, drivers and switchboard operators are said to earn between N$600 000 and N$1.1 million annually.
“Nangombe is tasked with operationalising and restructuring salaries but he’s going in there knowing everyone else is earning more than him,” a source said.
The government has already directed that revised SSC benefits be implemented this year as part of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s broader social protection agenda.
Immanuel previously criticised the salary structure at the state owned enterprise, arguing that as a Tier 2 entity that does not generate revenue for profit, the SSC cannot be compared to other Tier 2 state owned enterprises that generate revenue to cover high salaries.
The move follows cabinet’s decision in May to halt the recruitment of a substantive SSC chief executive officer after expressing concern over what it regarded as inflated executive salaries and “laughable” benefits paid from contributors’ funds.
Immanuel, at the time, instructed the SSC board to suspend the recruitment process pending a comprehensive review of the commission’s remuneration structure.
When contacted for comment, Immanuel told the Windhoek Observer that reforming salary structures at the SSC is a matter of urgency, stating that Nangombe, as the executive director in the line ministry, is well positioned to lead the proposed reforms.
“The secondment is the outcome of a consultative process driven by the urgency of reform. At this critical stage, the Board needs someone who not only understands the reasons behind the change but is also ready and committed to delivering the transformative mandate with purpose and resolve,” said Immanuel.
“In this regard, Mr. Ben Nangombe, in addition to serving as the line Executive Director, is well positioned to steer this transformative agenda at this critical juncture. The reform includes normalizing the salaries and improving members’ benefits as well as strengthening social protection in general.”
Maternity benefits have emerged as one of the government’s biggest concerns, with cabinet members arguing that the current payouts fail to protect working women during maternity leave, leaving many unable to meet their monthly financial obligations.
The reforms are expected to fundamentally reshape Namibia’s health financing system and are regarded as one of the country’s most significant public policy initiatives since independence, with Nangombe further expected to oversee the planned transfer of the administration of the Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme (Psemas) from Methealth Namibia Administrators to the SSC, as well as advance plans for an unemployment insurance fund that would provide sustained income support to workers who lose their jobs.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Immanuel believes meaningful improvements to member benefits will only be possible once executive remuneration is aligned with salary limits applicable to Tier 2 public institutions.
Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Monday, Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN) secretary-general Mahongora Kavihuha said while the bottom line does not necessarily concern teachers’ salaries, the union is more concerned about the misuse of public funds and member contributions.
“The misuse of workers’ money is becoming increasingly worrying and frustrating. Their investments are leading to the loss of billions of dollars to people that have decided to simply enrich themselves,” said Kavihuha.
He stressed that the government should address the salary disparities by strengthening its policy direction, so that workers can start benefiting from their social security contributions.
“The behaviour of the escalation or deliberate creation of inequality must be addressed. Our position remains that the government can only address it through strengthened policy direction,” Kavihuha stated.
