NSSF must account to the contributors
Dec 06, 2008
FINANCE minister Ezra Suruma has suspended the NSSF chief David Jamwa and deputy Mondo Kagonyera immediately. However, the officials are presumed innocent. For this reason, the Auditor General is expected to audit all transactions under Jamwa’s regime.
FINANCE minister Ezra Suruma has suspended the NSSF chief David Jamwa and deputy Mondo Kagonyera immediately. However, the officials are presumed innocent. For this reason, the Auditor General is expected to audit all transactions under Jamwa’s regime.
Although initial reports don’t indicate why Jamwa and Kagonyera have been suspended, NSSF is synonymous with scandal and controversy. Jamwa’s predecessors went the same shameful way—amid allegations of corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency.
The Fund recently sparked off a political storm when it purchased land at sh11b in Temangalo from businessman Amos Nzeyi and a company linked to Amama Mbabazi, the security minister and ruling NRM secretary general.
Parliament said it had no power to handle the matter but questioned the way the Fund is managed. Although there has been change of top managers with each scandal, there haven’t been any broad reforms which would ensure best practice and make abuse of office with impunity very risky. Therefore the President’s action is spot-on.
This is the time for NSSF managers and their associates to account for their actions or inactions. The Auditor General’s audit should leave no stone unturned to bring the culprits to book.
Most importantly, the Government needs to hear the workers’ call for radical reforms at NSSF such as board representation and regulatory framework. This will ensure better accountability and reassure NSSF savers.
Although initial reports don’t indicate why Jamwa and Kagonyera have been suspended, NSSF is synonymous with scandal and controversy. Jamwa’s predecessors went the same shameful way—amid allegations of corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency.
The Fund recently sparked off a political storm when it purchased land at sh11b in Temangalo from businessman Amos Nzeyi and a company linked to Amama Mbabazi, the security minister and ruling NRM secretary general.
Parliament said it had no power to handle the matter but questioned the way the Fund is managed. Although there has been change of top managers with each scandal, there haven’t been any broad reforms which would ensure best practice and make abuse of office with impunity very risky. Therefore the President’s action is spot-on.
This is the time for NSSF managers and their associates to account for their actions or inactions. The Auditor General’s audit should leave no stone unturned to bring the culprits to book.
Most importantly, the Government needs to hear the workers’ call for radical reforms at NSSF such as board representation and regulatory framework. This will ensure better accountability and reassure NSSF savers.