Lominda Afedraru
3 September 2008
Mukono — The workers umbrella body, the National Organisation of Trade Unions has demanded the sacking of Finance Minister Ezra Suruma and the National Social Security Fund board chairman, Mr Edward Gaamuwa.
The National Organisation of Trade Unions (Notu) Vice Chairperson, Ms Irene Kabole said while opening a workshop for trade union leaders organised by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Mukono on Monday that the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) top managers including the Managing Director, Mr David Chandi Jamwa and board should be fired together with ministers Suruma and Amama Mbabazi to pave way for a full investigation on the handling of three investment projects.
Ms Kabole said the workers were furious with the controversial Shs11 billion Temangalo land deal , as well the Shs31 billion NSSF, Alcon International out of court settlement and the trippling costs of Pension Towers tender from Shs36 billion to Shs120 billion.
"Our view has always been that the act of excluding workers on the board was to pave way for whatever mistakes we are witnessing now," she said.
"For this reason we are demanding thorough investigations and those implicated should face the law. Workers cannot continue getting a raw deal out of their hard earned money only to be enjoyed by few individuals. Therefore in the interest of justice and accepting full responsibility, the NSSF management, ministers Dr Suruma, Mr Mababazi and the entire NSSF board must resign to pave way for investigations," Ms Kabole said.
Notu also demanded that NSSF be relocated back to the Ministry of Labour, Gender and Social Development because it is the ministry, which addresses workers issues.
NSSF managers have been in the spotlight after revelations that the board on June 18 approved escalation of construction costs for Pension Towers, a building project being undertaken by the Fund on Lumumba Avenue in Kampala from Shs36 billion to Shs120 billion less than four months after construction started, and without approval of the procurement authority.
The Lumumba project revelations come only days after NSSF's management came under the spotlight for paying Shs11 billion for 414 acres of land it bought in Temangalo, Wakiso from Security Minister Amama Mbabazi and businessman Amos Nzeyi, above valuations by professional firms it had contracted and amidst claims of political influence peddling by a board member.
A board member, Mr Claudius Olweny has since said his concerns documented in board minutes, were taken out of context. Mr Suruma who couldn't be reached for comment by press time has defended himself, Mr Mbabazi and the NSSF managers in an interview published in the local press on Sunday. Mr Mbabazi also on Tuesday released a formal statement to the NRM Parliamentary Caucus defending himself.
NSSF managers are also plotting a Shs31 billion out-of-court settlement with Alcon, a firm whose contract was terminated for doing shoddy work on Workers House, against the advice of their external lawyer Dr Joseph Byamugisha, who believes he can win in court.
While the NSSF managers deny any wrong-doing, the revelations have caused a lot of public concern and left the managers facing a multiple investigation from the Auditor General, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority and Parliament.
The Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises last week quizzed Mr Gaamuwa and Mr Jamwa, and yesterday resumed public hearings about the matter.
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