Wherefore Nav boss go – Dagsavisen

Domestic

Labour and Social Affairs Robert Eriksson. PHOTO: GORM KALLESTAD / NTB Scanpix

One-third of the state budget

• Nav was created in 2006 by the merger of Labour, Social Security and municipal social offices.
• Manages around one third of the state budget.
• Approximately 19,000 people work at the 456 Nav offices.
• Navs goal is to get more people into work or education, and to administer benefits like unemployment benefit, rehabilitation benefit, sickness benefit, pension, child benefit and cash.
• Joakim Lystad took over as Nav chief after Tor Saglie in September 2010.
• Lystad came from a position as CEO of the FSA.
• He was employed for a term of six years and is now 62 years.

Yesterday Nav boss fired by Labour and Social Affairs Robert Eriksson (FRP) because it needed “new power and energy” in Nav to get ahead.

The brave woman who has agreed to take over as Acting Labor and Welfare Director, called Kjersti Monland. She has been ICT Director Nav since October. The previous ICT Director, Mona Aulie, went on day after disagreement with Lystad.

The process of finding a new, permanent holder of uriasposten, starting next week.

– In a new boss, I look for good leadership skills and good energy that can be a driving force for the organization, says Eriksson.

Struggled from the start

When Joakim Lystad was presented as the new Nav chief in September 2010, he was not only greeted with congratulations, but also warnings. Former Labor and Administration Minister Hanne Bjurstrøm (Ap), announced that Lystad could be exposed to great trials.

When did Nav heavily worn ever since its establishment in 2006, given the merger of Labour and Social Security and the collocation with municipal social welfare offices.

– Now the challenge is to get the organization to function, so that people can get out in the workplace rather than being passive beneficiaries, said Bjurstrøm said.

It has not Lystad clear, we believe an expert committee which submitted its conclusions as late as Thursday.

– Nav and work has far too long parted, said Chairwoman Sigrun Vågeng then.

Only 3 percent of 7 million user meetings with Nav has been with employers, she pointed out. This suggests that Nav been too little concerned about getting people into work, according to the expert committee.

ICT billion

Similar critical reports have regularly landed on LYSTAD table since he went into it which then already long been discussed as the most challenging and difficult job.

One of the first Lystad had to deal with, was another devastating report from the OAG regarding Navs accounts for 2009. Lystad struck when fixed that many of the mistakes that were pointed out by the Auditor General, had the basis of the transition to a new ICT system. Since Navs ICT issues have been a recurring both OAG annual reports and also in Parliament.

In February held Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs its second hearing on data problems Nav. Lystad estimated then that data modernization would be 1.5 billion more expensive than expected in 2011. During the first hearing in November, it was stated far lower overruns for the project which was originally estimated at 3.3 billion.

Among parliamentary politicians were big frustration after the second hearing. Both Conservative Michael Tetzschner and Labor Martin Kolberg (Ap) were among those who feared new and even higher horror figures for ICT initiatives in the future.

Animal consultants

Another issue that has attracted much attention, also in Parliament, is Navs use of consulting services. In December it was announced that the consulting firm Accenture billed Nav close to three billion over the past eight years. Almost half of Navs own ICT department has at times been staffed with consultants, despite Nav has about 19,000 employees.

Both this and more has sapped employee confidence Lystad and the other management. Already a few months after Lystad had taken the helm, said steward Jarle Berge that Nav system did not work and that it led to fewer than what was possible, come to work.

During the hearing in Parliament in November were other representatives even clearer in his criticism.

– For Nav should work well on. must change to lead Nav, said Hanne Nordhoug, head of the employees organized in the Norwegian Civil Service Union (NTL).

Labour and Social Affairs Robert Eriksson despair not answer exactly what Lystad have done wrong during the press conference where his departure was announced, yesterday.

– I do not focus on what has been done wrong and when. This is the sum of several things over time. When I want a new management contented Eriksson with.

– I would have liked to continue, but so it is in this type of positions.

It said outgoing Nav chief Joakim Lystad when he met the press yesterday afternoon.

When was Lystad about to move out of his office. He starts in his new job as special adviser Labour and Social Affairs on Monday.

– I’m looking forward to, Lystad said.

He retains the basic salary of over 1.3 million his new job.

Lystad made no criticism of Labour and Social Affairs Robert Eriksson in his “farewell interview”. On the contrary Lystad said that he “has experienced an orderly process. The minister wants a new leadership in Nav. There I shall relate to. “

Lystad also said he knew what kind of position he went to when he took the job.

Acting Labor and Welfare Director Nav, Kjersti Monland, which was also present, said that the organization must now continue its good work, but also see that a part can be done better.

 - We have a development potential, and there are too many users who do not have a good experience with Nav. We will work intensely to remedy, says Monland.

– We wish to continue the renewal of Nav. We have almost quadrupled working contact our recent years, and we will continue to work with, she adds. (NTB)