Ndishishi to hold the fort at NIPAM
Former Health and Social Services permanent secretary Andrew Ndishishi has been appointed as the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management’s (NIPAM) acting executive director until a suitable candidate is found.
Ndishishi replaces University of Namibia director for communications Edwin Tjiramba, who has been at the helm of NIPAM in an acting capacity since last year.
NIPAM has been without an executive director since Joseph Diescho was controversially axed from the institution.
Ndishishi left the Health Ministry last year to serve at the Cabinet Secretariat, a move that irked many at the time. His appointment is effective 1 August 2016. He is currently responsible for the public service in the Office of the Prime Minister.
The chairperson of NIPAM’s governing council, George Simataa, yesterday wrote that the vacant position of executive director was publicly advertised but none of the shortlisted candidates was found to be suitable.
“With concurrence of the prime minister, the governing council is appointing Mr Andrew Ndishishi as executive director on secondment by the Office of the Prime Minister. The appointment is effective from 1 August 2016 until the vacancy is filled,” Simataa wrote.
He said Ndishishi has served as a permanent secretary for various offices, ministries and agencies for over 20 years.
Earlier this year, Diescho said the institution needs to be headed by a PhD holder. He said a PhD qualification was “absolutely essential” for the executive director of NIPAM to take the country to the next level in terms of transformation.
In the job advertisement, a PhD was not listed as a requirement, but as an added advantage.
Some of the minimum requirements were a relevant postgraduate qualification in public administration and management, political science, sociology, leadership, change management, economic development, law, business management or administration. Asked why a PhD should be a requirement, Diescho said that lowering the bar would make it easier for politicians to just “dump anyone in the position”.
He said appointing someone who can’t perform would render NIPAM less effective than other such institutions.
“Other such institutions around Africa have highly qualified professors and lowering the bar is very risky,” he said.
Diescho said a PhD holder who understands rational thinking would add value to NIPAM and would also be less likely to be vulnerable to party politics.
“NIPAM has set high standards, we don’t want to deviate from that,” he said.
GORDON JOSEPH
Ndishishi replaces University of Namibia director for communications Edwin Tjiramba, who has been at the helm of NIPAM in an acting capacity since last year.
NIPAM has been without an executive director since Joseph Diescho was controversially axed from the institution.
Ndishishi left the Health Ministry last year to serve at the Cabinet Secretariat, a move that irked many at the time. His appointment is effective 1 August 2016. He is currently responsible for the public service in the Office of the Prime Minister.
The chairperson of NIPAM’s governing council, George Simataa, yesterday wrote that the vacant position of executive director was publicly advertised but none of the shortlisted candidates was found to be suitable.
“With concurrence of the prime minister, the governing council is appointing Mr Andrew Ndishishi as executive director on secondment by the Office of the Prime Minister. The appointment is effective from 1 August 2016 until the vacancy is filled,” Simataa wrote.
He said Ndishishi has served as a permanent secretary for various offices, ministries and agencies for over 20 years.
Earlier this year, Diescho said the institution needs to be headed by a PhD holder. He said a PhD qualification was “absolutely essential” for the executive director of NIPAM to take the country to the next level in terms of transformation.
In the job advertisement, a PhD was not listed as a requirement, but as an added advantage.
Some of the minimum requirements were a relevant postgraduate qualification in public administration and management, political science, sociology, leadership, change management, economic development, law, business management or administration. Asked why a PhD should be a requirement, Diescho said that lowering the bar would make it easier for politicians to just “dump anyone in the position”.
He said appointing someone who can’t perform would render NIPAM less effective than other such institutions.
“Other such institutions around Africa have highly qualified professors and lowering the bar is very risky,” he said.
Diescho said a PhD holder who understands rational thinking would add value to NIPAM and would also be less likely to be vulnerable to party politics.
“NIPAM has set high standards, we don’t want to deviate from that,” he said.
GORDON JOSEPH
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