Workers at the National Identification Authority (NIA) have declared an indefinite strike, effective Tuesday, June 24, 2025, following months of failed negotiations with the Ministry of Finance over unpaid allowances.
The strike, announced by the Divisional Executive Council of the Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) – NIA, comes after what the union describes as the Ministry’s persistent failure to commit to a clear timeline for the payment of the Operational Support Allowance. This allowance, the union says, is the only financial support that supplements the basic salaries of NIA staff, which they argue are woefully inadequate.
According to the union, the allowance was secured after long negotiations that concluded in July 2024 between government officials, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and union representatives. Payments began in August 2024 but were abruptly halted in January 2025, leaving workers in financial distress.
Despite several months of patience and repeated engagements with the Ministry of Finance, the union says there has been no tangible commitment to resume the payments. The final straw came after a high-level meeting on June 23, 2025, where once again, the Ministry failed to offer any concrete roadmap to resolve the issue.
NIA staff had pinned their hopes on assurances from their own management, who, during a press conference on June 18, 2025, promised that the outstanding allowances would be paid “very, very soon.” However, as of June 23, no progress had been made, deepening workers’ frustration.
“We have exercised patience for far too long. We have engaged, we have followed up, and we have cooperated in good faith,” the union’s statement read. “But our efforts have not been met with the urgency this situation demands.”
The PSWU emphasized that the decision to strike was not made lightly, but the prolonged delays and the government’s failure to act have left workers across the country, from the Head Office to Regional Offices, Premium Centres, and District Offices, struggling financially and emotionally.
The union also acknowledged the efforts of some stakeholders who tried to intervene but made it clear that without immediate action from the Ministry of Finance, all PSWU members at the NIA will withdraw their services indefinitely until their demands are met.
The strike is expected to significantly affect operations at the NIA, including national ID card services and registration activities across the country.
