Government restores increased NSS ‘allawa’ but says effective April 1

The Management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) says the government has approved an upward adjustment of national service personnel allowances from GH¢350.00 to GH¢559.04 monthly with effect from 1st April, 2017.

In a statement issued by the Ag. Executive Director, Ussif Mustapha, the NSS management expressed gratitude to the government for the increment and service personnel for “their patience and fruitful periodic engagements and discussions” on the issue and asked the personnel to even work harder to reciprocate the gesture.

“While thanking the government for its positive response to Management’s request for the increment, Management wishes also to express its gratitude to national service personnel for their patience and fruitful periodic engagements and discussions with Management on the subject matter. 

“Management wishes, therefore, to urge all national service personnel to reciprocate this gesture by further committing themselves to working even harder to support the government’s effort at improving the economy.”

The government on assumption of office, froze the increment approved by the Mahama administration which was to take effect from January 1. It was among a number of ‘last-minute’ decisions by the outgoing administration to be put on hold for review. In the case of the NSS allowance, the new administration said the increment was not captured in the supplementary budget presented to Parliament in November 2016.

The freeze saw service personnel threaten demonstrations, demanding that it be restored and arrears paid them.