The industrial dispute at the National Lottery Authority (NLA) has taken a positive turn after management and the workers’ union reached an agreement on the contentious 2026 salary adjustment.
The agreement follows an intervention by the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment Relations, Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, after NLA workers embarked on a sit-down strike on Monday, August 24, over salary increases, income tax deductions and other conditions of service.
A meeting involving the Labour Minister, officials of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the NLA Board and Management, and executives of the Financial, Business and Services Employees Union (FBSEU) resulted in a consensus to address the outstanding concerns.
Under the emerging arrangement, the FWSC has indicated its willingness to support management’s 12 percent salary increase proposal, bringing the two sides closer to resolving the dispute.
The union had initially demanded a 17 percent increase, while management proposed 12 percent, citing the Authority’s financial position.
Tax deductions remain key concern
Despite the progress on salaries, discussions are expected to continue over the impact of income tax adjustments on workers’ take-home pay.
The tax issue arose from the incorrect application of income tax on some staff salaries between 2016 and 2022, resulting in a tax liability of more than GH¢5 million.
Management has maintained that it reached an arrangement with the Ghana Revenue Authority to settle the outstanding liability without transferring the debt to employees.
However, the subsequent application of the correct tax treatment affected workers’ net salaries and became a major point of contention during negotiations.
The FWSC had earlier advised the NLA to implement an 8 percent salary adjustment, based on its assessment of the Authority’s financial position.
Management subsequently maintained its 12 percent proposal as a compromise between the FWSC recommendation and the union’s 17 percent demand.
NLA urges workers to resume duties
Following Monday’s agreement, the NLA has appealed to workers to remain calm and return to their duties while negotiations continue on the remaining issues.
The strike had disrupted activities at the Authority, with workers reportedly shutting down portions of its operations, including Brennan Hall, where lottery draws are conducted.
The latest intervention is expected to restore normal operations at the NLA while the parties work towards a comprehensive resolution of the tax and remuneration concerns.
The Authority said it remains committed to resolving the dispute and maintaining industrial harmony as it carries out its mandate of generating revenue for national development and providing lottery and entertainment services to the public.
