NIA Workers Begin Indefinite Nationwide Strike Over Conditions of Service

WRITTEN BY JOSHUA NARH

Workers of the National Identification Authority have begun an indefinite nationwide strike over delays in the approval and implementation of migration reports tied to their conditions of service, disrupting operations at NIA offices across the country.

The industrial action, declared by the Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) division of the NIA, took effect from midnight on Tuesday, May 12, after weeks of unresolved negotiations with the government and relevant state institutions. 

The strike is expected to affect key services, including Ghana Card registration, card replacement, updates and other identification-related processes nationwide. 

In a statement signed by Assistant Divisional Secretary Godsway Ayivor Bismark and Divisional Chairman Francis Bangfudem Nyuzaghl, the union directed all members to stay away from work until further notice.

“Effective 12:00 midnight, the indefinite strike is fully activated. Accordingly, no member of the NIA Division is expected to show up for work until further notice,” the statement said. 

The union also instructed regional executives to monitor compliance with the strike across all NIA offices.

“All regional executives and members are also directed to form monitoring units, go round the various offices, and ensure full compliance with the strike without fail,” the statement added. 

The workers are demanding the immediate approval and implementation of migration reports linked to their conditions of service. According to the union, although the Scheme of Service was approved in July 2024 and the migration process began in December 2024, staff members have yet to receive the corresponding benefits, salary adjustments and promotions attached to the exercise. 

The Union says the delays have persisted for 22 months despite several engagements involving management, the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders.

“Twenty-two months since the approval of the Scheme of Service, and despite the completion of the process and subsequent submission of reports, follow-ups by both the Union and Management, the Ministry of Finance is yet to grant approval for payment of staff,” the statement noted. 

Union leaders further warned that the prolonged delay was threatening what they described as the “relatively peaceful industrial atmosphere” within the authority. 

Before the strike commenced, management of NIA appealed to workers to suspend the action and allow the government two additional weeks to conclude processes concerning the approval and implementation of the migration reports.