By Sostenus Wilherm
The National Youth Service (NYS) is drawn into a battle of legality, governance and financial oversight after it emerged that the institution has been operating for almost a year under a four-member interim board, despite the NYS Act 6 of 2005 explicitly requiring a board of no fewer than seven and no more than nine members.
The current four members are officials representing the Namibian Police Force, the Namibian Correctional Services, the Namibian Defence Force and the youth ministry, who were co-opted by to serve on the board.
Meanwhile, the leadership stench follows the expiry of the previous board’s term in June 2025 and has triggered growing concerns over whether key decisions involving nearly N$150 million in taxpayer funds are being taken without the legally prescribed oversight structures in place.
It is alleged that, the situation has also fueled fears that the prolonged delay in appointing a fully constituted board may have weakened accountability systems, exposed the institution to administrative risks and concentrated decision-making power within a limited structure.
According to sources within the service, the absence of critical board subcommittees such as finance, audit and risk, human resources and business development has further intensified scrutiny, with questions emerging over whether the current arrangement is capable of providing the level of independent oversight, internal control and governance expected from a major public enterprise entrusted with millions in public resources.
Furthermore, it is believed that the status quo has resulted in vacuum strict oversight over the NYS chief executive officer Felix Musukubili and senior managers, which has resulted in unbearable working conditions, constructive dismissals and unchecked financial activities, as board is said to not be meeting frequently as it should.
It is also alleged that the youth minister Sanet Steenkamp has not acted recommending a substantive board to President Netumbo Nandi- Ndaitwah, who is the appointing authority. Sources informed Confidente that Musukubili is pushing to influence this process.
On his part, Musukubili confirmed that the institution has indeed been operating without a full board since June 2025, which cannot constitute critical subcommittees.
“In terms of the appointment of the board is done by the President and what I can tell you is that the process has commenced and it is now with the minister and it is nearing conclusion. Currently there are four board members who are serving the function of the board. Because there are only four, they cannot constitute the sub committees, but they are exercising their oversight function,” Musukubili said.
He further defended the institution’s governance systems, saying oversight mechanisms remain active through reporting structures involving both the board and the ministry.
“On the allegation that there has been resignation at the NYS and administrative as well as governance concerns at the institution, I am not aware of such instances, the only resignation I am aware of is of one gentleman due to misconduct and he decided not to go through the disciplinary process but to resign,” he explained.
Musukubili also rejected allegations that he is attempting to influence or lobby for certain individuals to be appointed to the board, stressing that the process falls entirely under the authority of the head of state. Questions sent to Steenkamp were responded to by the ministry’s executive director Gerard Norman Vries explained that the delay in finalising the remaining board appointments, is attributable to verification and scrutiny processes that fall outside the ministry’s jurisdiction.
“Furthermore, NYS is not an isolated case. Across the public enterprise landscape, several state- owned entities continue to operate while board appointment processes are being concluded,” Vries added.
On concerns regarding governance independence and the absence of board committees such as finance, audit and risk, human resources, and business development, Vries said: “Given the size of the interim board, members convene collectively as a full board rather than in subcommittee structures. This arrangement ensures deliberations remain transparent and collective.”
Vries maintained that youth ministry is not to blame over the prolonged delay in finalising the remaining appointments, saying the process was conducted by the then Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises before being submitted to the appointing authority.
Addressing allegations that the current governance arrangement may have created unchecked authority for senior management at NYS, the ministry insisted that the institution remains under active supervision.
“This characterisation is inaccurate. The current board meets periodically and continues to exercise oversight over the institution’s operations. In addition, the Chief Executive Officer and senior management remain fully accountable to the ministry through established reporting structures.”
