National Service Personnel Express Frustration Over Delayed and Incomplete Allowance Payments
National Service personnel serving across various sectors under the government’s payroll have voiced their discontentment after receiving only two months’ worth of allowances despite serving for five months, sparking concerns and frustrations among the youth workforce.
In an exclusive interview with Pulse News, several individuals shared their grievances, highlighting the challenges posed by the delayed and incomplete payment system. Johnson, aged 24, expressed his disappointment, stating, “Finally, I’ve received my allowance but I’m not excited at all. How can I be working for 5 months and get just two months’ allowance? They’re frustrating us. Honestly, I want to quit!”
Curtis, 23, echoed similar sentiments, questioning the rationale behind the partial payment. “Two months out of 4. Honestly, I feel they should have paid in full. There’s absolutely no reason for half payment given the delay. Why promise monthly when you can’t live up to it?” he questioned.
Angela, a National Service Person serving in the Ghana Education Service, highlighted the financial strain caused by delayed payments and stressed the importance of timely communication. “They should try their best to pay the allowance on time because most personnel are taking care of themselves so they tend to borrow money from friends,” she explained. “If anything is hindering them not to paying these monies on time, they should communicate to the NSPs. I believe communication is key.”
Precious, 23, shared her dismay, emphasizing the unfairness of the payment method. “Just 2 months… it’s so unfair to work for 5 months and just get two months’ pay,” she lamented. “All I have to tell them is that a lot needs to be done to improve the working conditions of the NSS.”
Franklin raised concerns about the broader implications of such practices on national patriotism, urging the NSS secretariat and the government to prioritize timely payments and streamline administrative processes. “This nation is discouraging the youth from exhibiting patriotism to the State,” he remarked. “Pay on time. Teach Personnel to uphold and fulfill their commitments, especially to the State.”
He proposed practical solutions to enhance efficiency, suggesting, “The Supervisors of the various Personnel can be given the space to directly upload the printed, filled, and signed copies of the evaluation. Then, physical submissions would also be received, in case the Supervisor finds it difficult to scan and upload the filled form using their institutional mail.”
As frustrations mount among National Service personnel, calls for action to address the issue of delayed and incomplete allowance payments grow louder, highlighting the need for swift and effective measures to ensure fair treatment and support for the youth workforce.
