WORKERS attending the 5th congress of the National Union of Namibian Workers have called on President Hifikepunye Pohamba to set up an inquiry into the running of the Government Institutions Pension Fund.

The congress also demanded that the Namibia Public Workers Union and the Namibia National Teachers Union recall their representatives on the board of GIPF.

Both the GIPF and the NUNW's withdrawal from the Basic Income Grant received substantial attention during the congress, which ended with the election of a new leadership yesterday.

For BIG, the workers instructed the leadership to reconsider the partnership with other proponents of the initiative, with the view of rejoining it.

Congress delegates said that it was also decided that Napwu and Nantu should take action against the representatives on the GIPF board since they were seconded by the individual unions and not the NUNW.

The Basic Income Grant was also given its fair share of attention at the weekend's congress, with many workers expressing their disappointment in the federation's decision to pull out of the poverty alleviation project.

The congress resolved that the decision to cut ties with the BIG coalition be reconsidered with a view to rejoining the coalition.

Concerns about the approach and formula of the BIG were raised from the congress floor. Some delegates felt that BIG should not cater for the well-off and could also consider other forms of assistance.

This came despite earlier attempts to block the issues from being debated at the emotional congress.

Although the atmosphere was very tense, workers did manage to debate real bread and butter issues affecting them.

Some senior union leaders attempted to block NUNW secretary general Evilastus Kaaronda from raising concerns about GIPF and BIG, but it was met with resistance by the congress delegates, who supported Kaaronda and wanted to hear him present his reports.

Every time Kaaronda spoke he was supported by cheering delegates, who also uttered "down corruption" slogans.

Some leaders even attempted to remove Kaaronda from the podium but many delegates resisted it.

As a result police had to come in and restore order twice over the weekend, while especially the GIPF issue was discussed both Friday and Saturday at the congress. The GIPF and BIG debates had shown to have been a victory for Kaaronda, who had to fight tooth and nail against attempts by his leadership peers to sweep them under the carpet.

Although the debate was heated and tempers flaring, no violence was reported, and no walkouts either, as the workers voted from the ballots for the next leadership of the union umbrella body.