Staff of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) have commenced an indefinite sit-down industrial action over what they describe as unresolved welfare concerns, stalled salary negotiations, and disagreements over payroll and tax-related liabilities.
The action, announced by the NLA Local Union, follows what the union says were months of unsuccessful engagements with management and the Director-General, Mohammed Abdul Salam, over remuneration and working conditions.
Speaking on behalf of the workers, Local Union Chairman Eric Tamakloe said the industrial action became necessary after repeated efforts to reach an agreement with management failed to yield results.
According to the union, although staff received a five percent salary increase in 2025, rising deductions and other factors have led to a decline in workers’ take-home pay. The union argues that under current proposals for 2026, employees could end up taking home less income than they did in 2024.
The union disclosed that it submitted a proposal for a 25 percent salary increase in October 2025 but alleged that negotiations were delayed for several months due to repeated referrals to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission. Formal discussions, it said, only began in June and July 2026.
Workers further accused management of undermining the negotiation process by submitting salary figures to the Commission that differed from those discussed with the union and by budgeting for a 12 percent salary increase without prior consultation.
Another major concern raised by the union relates to findings from a forensic audit, which reportedly identified payroll and tax computation discrepancies dating back to 2016. The union rejected suggestions that employees should bear any financial liabilities arising from the errors, insisting that responsibility for payroll administration rests with management.
As part of its demands, the union is calling for the immediate suspension of any attempts to recover alleged back-payments from staff until an independent audit determines responsibility. It is also demanding the resumption of collective bargaining negotiations in good faith, a transparent salary adjustment that restores workers’ take-home pay to at least 2024 levels, and greater consultation between management and the union on salary-related decisions.
The workers are also urging management to engage qualified payroll and tax professionals to address the identified discrepancies and prevent future errors.
Mr. Tamakloe said the union remains committed to dialogue and is seeking time-bound negotiations that will produce a fair settlement while restoring confidence between staff and management.
“We call on the Director-General and the NLA management team to immediately enter meaningful negotiations with the union to resolve these matters,” he said.
The union also appealed to stakeholders and the public to respect the workers’ right to industrial action while encouraging management to act responsibly in addressing staff concerns and safeguarding the operations and integrity of the National Lottery Authority.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
