The staff of the National Identification Authority (NIA) have embarked on an indefinite strike over the government’s failure to resume payment of a 20% operational support allowance, which was negotiated and agreed upon in July 2024.
According to John Sampa, Deputy General Secretary of the Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU), the strike follows several months of fruitless dialogue with management and government stakeholders.
Speaking on GHToday with Lily Mohammed on GHOneTV on Tuesday, June 24, Mr. Sampa explained that although the allowance was paid briefly starting in August 2024, payments stopped abruptly in January 2025 without explanation.
“In January, we didn’t get the allowance. So we consulted management. They said it was budgeted for and approved, and that they were using IGF (Internally Generated Funds) initially, then would switch to central government funds,” he said.
READ: NIA workers embark on indefinite strike over unpaid operational support allowance
Despite repeated assurances from management and meetings with the Ministry of Finance, workers have yet to receive their allowances or any clear timeline for resumption.
“Every month they kept giving us assurances,” Sampa lamented. “This is not a new allowance we are negotiating. It was agreed upon, paid, and people have planned their finances around it including taking loans.”
Mr. Sampa disclosed that during a recent meeting with officials at the Ministry of Finance, the union was told the delay was due to a “technical error” and poor budget capturing. While the Ministry acknowledged the legitimacy of the claims, no firm commitment or payment timeline was given.
“The Deputy Minister was sincere, but not convincing. It means technically, they have not budgeted for it and we don’t know when we’ll be paid. That’s the honest truth,” he said.
The union insists that the only way the strike will be called off is if the government resumes the allowance payments and settles all arrears owed to the NIA workers.
“We’ve been patient long enough. We’ve engaged in good faith behind closed doors. But workers feel deceived. This is their right, and we expect the government to act,” Mr. Sampa concluded.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Emmanuel Mensah
