The National Service Secretariat (NSS) has defended government’s decision to increase monthly allowance for national service personnel, saying it was not a hasty political decision.
In a statement issued on Friday, 23rd December, 2016, the Secretariat said, the process to consider a possible upward adjustment of personnel allowances began in April, 2016 when the Board gave approval for deliberations towards a new rate for the personnel.
“The process to consider an upward adjustment of personnel allowances began in April, 2016 when the National Service Board gave approval for discussions towards a new rate for the personnel allowances.”
According to the managers of the Secretariat, “Management, acting on the directives of the National Service Board, secured technical clearance from the Public Services Commission and financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance.”
The statement added that, “the increment of the personnel allowances to GH¢559.04 was arrived at by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission in the light of the fact that personnel allowances were calculated at 40 per cent of the graduate entry level on the 2017 Single Spine Salary Structure for 2017. Unfortunately, this fact has been lost in most of the public discussions on the matter.”
Management of NSS also justifies recently concluded recruitment exercise, saying it was done in accordance with due process.
“The vacant positions were widely advertised in various Ghanaian newspapers, on the Scheme’s website, and on social media. Eligible applicants were therefore shortlisted, interviews were conducted and successful applicants were accordingly given appointment letters in line with the ethics of the public service,” the statement said.
The outgoing National Democratic Congress (NDC) government led by President John Dramani Mahama together with the National Service Secretariat (NSS) have come under heavy criticism after announcing a 60% increment in monthly allowance for service personnel and recently concluded recruitment of new staff.
Some commentators said the recent actions were deliberate attempts by government and the National Service Scheme to politically frustrate the plans of the incoming New Patriotic Party government which takes office on January 7, 2017.
