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We plan to, but have not yet increased service allowance – Scheme
By Nsikan Ikpe
The Ghana National Service Secretariat (NSS) has denied reports insinuating that it had already increased the allowances for service personnel by about 80 cedis.
Reports widely circulated, particularly on social media on Friday had suggested that the NSS secretariat had presently effected an allowance increase from the current rate of GHs350 to a new and enhanced figure of GHs430.
According to the secretariat however, no such increment had been effected, even as it admitted that it was in talks with the Ghana parliament on the approval of its budget for 2017 which captures an expected increment.
Before now, service personnel in the country had been expectant of an increment in their allowances from the current GHs350 to GHs559.
This is based on moves made by the previous John Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, which had in December 2016 announced a proposed increment of the allowance to GHs559 for service personnel.
However, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government after assuming office in January 2017 said it could not effect the increment because it was not captured in it’s own budget.
But with expectations having been raised the Akufo-Addo government has made adjustments.
And though confirming that an increase is truly in the offing at the moment, the statement from the NSS also went on to however insist that it was yet to take effect:
‘Management wishes to state that increment in National Service allowances featured prominently in the Scheme’s budget which is currently before Parliament for appropriation.
The Scheme will therefore, in due course, communicate officially to the general public and our cherished service personnel on the outcome of our engagements with Parliament over our budget and increment in personnel allowances specifically.
Management wishes to reiterate its commitment to ensuring that the utmost interest of service personnel is protected in all engagements over increment in service personnel allowances.’
The service’s position was relayed via a release that was signed by Gifty Oware-Aboagye, Deputy Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the service.
President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana
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