Nanso fails to account for N$1.2 million

WINDHOEK, 09 NOV – The Namibian National Students’ Organisation (Nanso) has failed to account for N.dollars 1.2 million it received over the last three financial years, Higher Education, Training and Innovation Minister, Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi said.

Kandjii-Murangi made this revelation when she responded to questions into Nanso’s finances by Rally for Democracy and Progress’ Mike Kavekotora in the National Assembly on Thursday.

“How much money was allocated to the Namibia National Students’ Organisation annually from your ministry’s budget over the past three years?” Kavekotora asked.

The minister said for the 2016/17 financial year (FY), it received N$422 000 and during the 2017/18 FY, Nanso received N$337 000. In the current FY, the student body got N$422 000.

When Kavekotora asked Kandjii-Murangi who, if anyone, audits Nanso’s financial statements to establish whether or not the money was being used for the intended purpose, she said it was not for her ministry to decide which audit firm it chooses.

“However, we have raised with Nanso as we do with all other entities under our auspices, that audited financial statements are a prerequisite before any other subvention is released.”

Nanso and the higher education ministry are at loggerheads over the student organisation’s failure to submit audited financial statements over the last three years.

“We are currently at crossroads with Nanso due to their failure to submit audited financial statements,” said Kandjii-Murangi.

The ministry is also not in a position to say whether or not the money it gives to Nanso serves the intended purpose.
“To our knowledge, Nanso has repeatedly failed to submit audited financial statements, a situation the ministry does not condone,” she said.
(NAMPA)