Windhoek: Prime Minister (PM) Elijah Ngurare has emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts across government sectors, including regional councils, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and local authorities. This, he said, will enable public service delivery to become more efficient and uninterrupted. Ngurare made the call while addressing his staff members in Windhoek on Monday, emphasising the need for improved integration, cooperation, and interoperability among government Offices/Ministries and Agencies (OMAs), SOEs, Regional Councils, and Local Authorities to ensure the achievement of the goals of the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).
According to Namibia Press Agency, the PM also mentioned the recent consultative workshop on the Public Procurement System, highlighting that the workshop examined the compatibility and application of all legal instruments governing public procurement, including the Public Procurement Act of 2015, the State Finance Act of 1991, and the Public Private Partnership Act of 2017. "Consensus was reached that all bottlenecks and challenges that impede the seamless implementation of government development plans and projects must be addressed," he remarked.
Ngurare stated that legal policies and administrative measures are being revised to ensure that existing challenges do not continue to hinder efficient public service delivery. "It was therefore directed that all OMAs, SOEs, Regional Councils and Local Authorities must develop their Annual Procurement Plans in line with the priorities contained in NDP6, and with a clear interface between policy makers and administrators," he stated.
He also urged all 118,936 employees on the public service payroll to provide efficient services to the Namibian people, emphasising that the state is required to meet its constitutional responsibilities. "It is imperative as employees of government that we make it our patriotic duty to create opportunities for others, particularly the unemployed young professionals nationwide. The NDP6, strategic plans and annual plans serve as the roadmaps for service delivery. I believe that these must be implemented with a focus on humanity rather than technicalities," he added.
Ngurare further instructed his staff members to ensure that they provide the necessary tools for public servants to be essential components of the machinery that sustains government and state administration. He emphasised that the work environment must be conducive and supportive, with all required tools and support provided.