NAO Responds to Askanwi Publication on AG’s Salary and Allowances Totalling D175k
Auditor General’s monthly salaries and allowances © Askanwi
After Askanwi published an article questioning the Auditor General’s salary in the 2027 Draft Budget, we received the following clarification from the National Audit Office (NAO).
By the National Audit Office
The National Audit Office (NAO) would like to clarify details regarding your recent publication about the Auditor General’s Salary in the 2027 Budget.
For context, the Auditor General’s Annual Basic Salary for 2027 is D692,500, which equals a monthly Basic Salary of D57,708.33. His projected total monthly earning for 2027 is D175,425.33, combining the Basic Salary and applicable allowances.
Based on our analysis of your article, the reported figures erroneously compared the monthly Basic Salary amounts from 2025 and 2026 with the total monthly earnings (salary plus allowances) for 2027. This miscalculation accounts for the significant discrepancy in your comparison and leads to further misreporting when compared with other public officials' Basic salaries.
Please note that the NAO has not proposed any salary increment for the Auditor General or staff members in the 2027 Estimates.
Auditor General’s Salary and Allowances © Askanwi after MoFEA
Editor's Note
Askanwi Media appreciates the response from the NAO and welcomes their clarification and transparency.
Firstly, Askanwi is grateful for the answer to our second question, which asked whether the Auditor General’s monthly basic salary had increased from D58,854.167 in 2026 to D175,425.33 in 2027. According to the NAO, the latter figure represents his salary and allowances.
However, Askanwi’s first question remains unanswered: Why has the Auditor General’s 2026 approved salary of D706,250 been replaced with D2.112 million in the 2027 Draft Budget?
How can a figure approved by Parliament in the 2026 Approved Budget be changed in the subsequent 2027 Draft Budget?
It is important to clarify that Askanwi did not erroneously compare the Auditor General’s basic salary for 2025 and 2026 with his total salary and allowances for 2027.
The 2026 Approved Budget lists basic salaries and allowances separately. However, in the 2027 Draft Budget, this same column now presents gross salaries, without any explanation to indicate the change.
To avoid miscommunication, it is imperative that the Personnel Management Office list basic salaries and allowances separately for each government official. It should also indicate the actual salaries and allowances paid to each official in previous years. For instance, the 2025 actual figures could be included in the 2027 Draft Budget to provide a clearer basis for comparison.
Finally, it is important to note that the Auditor General’s monthly allowance of D117,717 is more than twice his monthly basic salary of D57,708.33.
