Staff of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) have suspended their sit-down strike and returned to work following government intervention in a dispute over the 2026 salary adjustment.
The workers began the strike on Monday, August 24, after negotiations with management over the proposed salary increase reached a deadlock.
Management had proposed a 12% salary adjustment, but the workers were demanding a higher increase, citing the impact of tax deductions on their take-home pay.
Speaking on Citi FM on Monday, NLA Director-General Mohammed Abdul-Salam said management was surprised by the industrial action because the matter had already been referred to the Labour Commission and was progressing towards arbitration.
He said management immediately engaged the Labour Minister after the strike began, resulting in discussions involving the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the NLA Board Chairman and representatives of the workers.
According to Mr Abdul-Salam, the discussions have resulted in the workers calling off the strike and resuming their normal duties.
“The staff have called off the action, and things are calm. The draw that was delayed earlier in the morning has been carried through, and we are ensuring that things are steady,” he said.
He confirmed that the workers had returned to work.
“It has been called off. It has been called off, and they are back to their normal work activities,” he said.
Tax deductions at centre of salary dispute
Mr Abdul-Salam explained that the salary dispute is partly linked to the taxation of allowances paid to NLA employees.
He said an audit covering the period from 2016 to 2022 found that some allowances paid to staff had not been subjected to the appropriate income tax.
The NLA was subsequently required to pay nearly GH¢5 million in outstanding taxes, a liability which management absorbed.
According to the Director-General, however, workers believe the implementation of the revised tax calculations has significantly reduced their take-home pay.
He said this has become a major reason behind their demand for a higher salary adjustment to cushion the effect of the tax deductions.
NLA faces over GH¢2bn tax liabilities
Mr Abdul-Salam also disclosed that the NLA is facing significant financial difficulties, including accumulated tax liabilities exceeding GH¢2 billion.
The Authority is also dealing with outstanding contractual obligations and other staff-related expenses, making it difficult for management to meet the workers’ demands without considering its wider financial position.
He said the NLA has entered into an agreement with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and is appealing to the Finance Minister for relief on accumulated penalties.
“We have entered agreement with GRA and we are…appealing to the Minister of Finance if there can be a waiver on the accumulated penalties and all that because certainly NLA will find it difficult to pay over two billion in taxes,” he said.
The workers’ return to work brings temporary relief to the salary dispute, with further engagement between management, the unions and the relevant government institutions expected to determine the way forward.
