SSNIT, NHIS deductions for NABCO employees strictly optional – NABCO CEO

Chief Executive Officer of the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) says allowances for all NABCO recruits will not be subject to taxes nor SSNIT deductions.

Clarifying what went into the allowances of these recruits, Dr Ibrahim Anyars explains that no money will be deducted from allowances and that payments regarding SSNIT contributions and health insurance will solely be the responsibility of NABCO recruits.

“This is non-deductible. Graduates themselves subscribe to certain things they find value in naturally to their benefit. They may subscribe to any scheme at their will.

NHIS and SSNIT are things that they may voluntary ask for deductions to be made but that is something that does not affect their principal. It’s their money,” he explained.

He argues that the entire application and recruitment process is free and at no cost to applicants or employees.

“We associate with the challenge that these people face. It will be a burden on them to require certain payments in the lead up to their employment. There is no cost component to the NABCO program. These allegations are just distractions of no value,” he stated.

The NABCO programme is a stop-gap measure introduced by the government to tackle unemployment in the country. Tertiary school graduates who have successfully completed their National Service programme were those qualified for recruitment onto the scheme.

The modules for the programme are: Educate Ghana, Heal Ghana, Feed Ghana, Revenue Ghana, Digitize Ghana, Civic Ghana and Enterprise Ghana.

The government has reiterated several times that the recruits will not be jobless at the end of the programme.

However, the opposition National Democratic Congress has played down the programme saying that it cannot be sustained.

Tamale North MP, Alhassan Suhuyini told JoyNews the amount being paid is not worth the qualification of the beneficiaries.

NABCo is established by the government to address economic challenges caused by lack of employment. It is designed to provide jobs to unemployed graduates.

The new NABCO graduates will be given jobs in modules dubbed Civic Ghana, Revenue Ghana, Educate Ghana, Enterprise Ghana, Digitize Ghana, Heal Ghana and Feed Ghana.

The enlisted personnel have gone through several weeks of rigorous training and capacity building programmes in their chosen schedules and will be working for three years and will receive a monthly stipend of GH¢700.00.