NLA Urges Staff to End Sit-Down Strike as Salary Dispute Goes Before NLC

The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has appealed to its staff to suspend their ongoing sit-down strike and return to the negotiation table as efforts continue to resolve a dispute over the proposed 2026 salary adjustment.

The call follows the rejection by the workers’ union of management’s 12% salary increase. The union is demanding a 17% adjustment, arguing that a higher increment is needed to cushion employees against the impact of changes to their take-home pay.

In a statement issued on Monday, August 24, 2026, the NLA said it remained committed to finding a solution and had engaged the National Labour Commission (NLC) to help settle the disagreement.

“The Management of the National Lottery Authority remains fully committed to resolving the issues at stake and is calling on the local Union and all staff to call off their sit-down strike and return to the negotiation table,” the Authority stated.

The NLA explained that its proposed 12% increase was influenced by financial pressures facing the Authority, including a tax liability of more than GH¢5 million.

According to management, the liability arose from the incorrect application of income tax on staff salaries between 2016 and 2022.

The Authority said it was notified of the outstanding amount by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and subsequently reached an arrangement with the tax agency to settle the arrears.

Management said it agreed to absorb the tax burden rather than pass the cost on to employees.

However, the tax adjustment still affected workers’ net salaries, which became a key factor behind the union’s demand for a 17% salary increase.

“The Union therefore pushed for a 17% salary increase to cushion staff,” the NLA said.

The Authority disclosed that its Board initially approved a 10% salary increase after considering the tax liability and other financial pressures reflected in its budget.

Management later secured an additional 2%, raising the proposed increment to 12%.

The union rejected the revised offer, declared the negotiations deadlocked and subsequently referred the matter to the NLC.

The NLA also disclosed that it had sought guidance from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).

In a response dated June 11, the FWSC reportedly advised the Authority to implement an 8% salary increase based on its financial position.

Despite the recommendation, management said it increased its offer to 12% as part of efforts to reach a compromise with the union.

The disagreement escalated after the union informed management on August 21 of its decision to embark on a sit-down strike and demonstration from Monday, August 24.

The NLA is now calling on the workers to suspend the industrial action and resume negotiations while the dispute is addressed through the established labour relations process.

Management said it remained hopeful that its ongoing engagements with the NLC would produce a mutually acceptable outcome, including the possibility of resolving the matter through arbitration.