NIA workers begin indefinite strike over unpaid allowances
Members of the Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) at the National Identification Authority (NIA) have declared an indefinite strike effective June 24 in protest against what they describe as persistent delays and unfulfilled promises by the Ministry of Finance regarding the payment of their Operational Support Allowance.
The union says the allowance described as the only financial cushion for NIA staff whose basic salaries are “meagre” has not been paid since January 2025, despite prior agreements and multiple assurances from both NIA management and the government.
The strike follows a final round of talks with the Ministry of Finance on Monday, June 23, which ended without any firm commitment or payment timeline.
The allowance, originally negotiated in July 2024 and disbursed from August to December, was the result of extensive discussions involving the PSWU, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and the Finance Ministry.
In a statement released Tuesday, the PSWU’s NIA Divisional Executive Council said: “This difficult but necessary decision has become inevitable. Repeated follow-ups, constructive engagement, and our demonstrated willingness to cooperate in good faith have not been met with the urgency and seriousness this issue demands”.
The union expressed frustration with the government’s continued inaction, especially after NIA management assured staff as recently as June 18 that payments would be made “very, very soon.”
Workers across the NIA’s head office, regional branches, premium centres, and district offices are reportedly under severe financial and emotional strain.
“This strike is not a decision we take lightly. It reflects the deep frustration of workers who have endured months of neglect,” the statement emphasised.
All PSWU members at the NIA have been directed to withdraw their services immediately.
However, the union urged its members to remain peaceful and law-abiding throughout the industrial action.
The PSWU reaffirmed its willingness to resume negotiations on the condition that the Ministry commits to the full and immediate payment of the outstanding allowances.