NIA staff suspends strike pending negotiations with FWSC.

The staff of the National Identification Authority (NIA) has called off the strike which began on Monday, June 10.

In a press release shared, on Wednesday, the NIA staff indicated that their decision was influenced by interventions from various stakeholders including the Minister for National Security, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the National Labour Commission and the public outcry of decerning Ghanaians.

The staff stated that FWSC assured them of their willingness to act in good faith in subsequent engagements over their conditions of service.

“However, this gesture will be put to the test on Friday, June 14, 2024. Members are therefore assured that, if at the close of negotiations on Friday, the government fails to demonstrate true faith by granting us Institution Specific Allowances, we would not be hesitant to return to our industrial action; this must be noted,” they added.

“We hereby appeal to all members to report to work tomorrow Thursday, June 13, 2024, and professionally discharge our duties,” the NIA staff noted.

NIA workers declared the strike on June 10 to demand better conditions of service, citing poor conditions of service and government delays in concluding negotiations on their allowances.

The union noted that it had postponed an initial strike notice in March 2024, following the intervention of the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations.

Despite this, the government’s lack of progress in the negotiation process has compelled the union to proceed with industrial action.

As a result, from Monday all NIA offices, including district, regional, and premium centres, ceased operations, leaving applicants frustrated and in limbo.

Meanwhile, the NIA staff noted that they are hoping for a favourable outcome during the negotiations on Friday urging the FWSC and other stakeholders to act in the interest of industrial harmony.