NAGRAT Puts Intended Strike On Hold

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), says it has put on hold plans to embark on an industrial action today [Tuesday], as government has released part of the over Ghc50 million arrears owed it members.

According to the Association, it will take a concrete decision after a meeting with its Council members following government’s announcement that it had partially cleared the debt.

NAGRAT’s intended strike was to protest its unpaid allowances that had accumulated from 2013.

NAGRAT President, Angel Carbonu, at a press conference last week said “we are owed vehicle maintenance allowance, we are also owed transfer grants, and then we are also owed transport and travel allowances. All these amounts to over 50 million cedis, and there is also salary arrears of those who have been recruited into the Ghana Education Service, and they have taught for months and have not been paid for those months that they have taught. They also owe us allowances and arrears that ought to be paid, and all these we are not getting any clear indication as to government’s determination to pay these monies, so once we have a situation like this, we are affected by government’s ineptitude to address the issues.”

The government through the Ministry of Finance is on record to have released some 14 million cedis to the Education Ministry to defray some of the arrears owed.

This was announced by Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

But speaking to Citi News, Mr. Carbonu said NAGRAT will hold some meetings to find the way forward.

“When we are going to embark on any such action, we would have to sit with the Council and the Council takes a definite decision. The announcement that government had paid 14 million came on Friday. We are going to carry that announcement to the table and a final decision will be arrived at,” he said.

He noted that the Council will need clarity from the government on which category of teachers the released funds will cater for, and when the remaining amount will be paid to determine its next line of action.

“If all these things are done and we are sure that within the shortest possible time, the monies will be paid to members, it will influence our decision,” he added.

Source: Citifmonline