Incoming NPP government is suggesting that the 12.5% salary increase for workers is among the so-called ‘last-minute’ moves by the outgoing NDC government. But Haruna Iddrisu has this to say…
Minister for Labour and Employment, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu has defended the recently circulating news on an increment effected on workers’ salary – a development the NPP is trying to include among the controversial late deals of the NDC administration.
News of the 12.5% increment broke out alongside the late announcement of the National Service Secretariat (NSS) of a 60% increase in their staff salary.
However, Mr Iddrisu has said that the 12.5% workers salary increase is not a new one, but has already been concluded on some months before the election. Speaking to Joy News, Haruna Iddrisu condemned the act of fronting the salary increase as a transition period development; describing it as an act of mischief by critics of the outgoing government.
To make his argument clear, the outgoing Labour Minister explained that the decision to increase salaries of public sector workers was arrived at by the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC), comprising government, and organised labour. According to him, although implementation of the increase will take off from January, 2017, negotiations commenced as early as May 2016 and was completed in September, 2016.
Below is the communique dated 13th of September, 2016, jointly signed by the Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission George Smith Graham and General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress Dr Yaw Baah.
Mr Iddrisu further explained that the decision to effect the increase in 2017 was to give room for proper plans to be made for its implementation. He also indicated that provisions has been made in the 2017 budget for the increase, hence, no cause for alarms.
The outgoing Mahama-led administration has been accused of engaging in fresh deals withing the transition period- a development the incoming Akufo-Addo government has criticised as late and unlawful.
Rumours were initially circulating about the incumbent government engaging in fresh recruitment in the public service, awarding new contracts and so many other governmental duties.
Akufo-Addo’s representative on the Transition team, Osarfo Marfo who publicly expressed worries over the allegations, appealed to the outgoing administration to ensure that they consult the incoming government before carrying out any administrative duties within the transition period.
More definitely, President Mahama on Tuesday, confirmed Joseph Whittal and Josephine Nkrumah as new chairpersons of the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) respectively.
Meanwhile, many NPP supporters have criticised the government over the recent developments, pointing out the various negative effects it would have on the new government.
A more drastic move was taken by Legal practitioner, Philip Addison who has filed a suit against the President for the new appointments in CHRAJ and NCCE.
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