Staff of the National Identification Authority (NIA) who are members of the Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) have commenced an indefinite nationwide strike, citing the government’s failure to pay their Operational Support Allowance since January 2025.
The decision, officially announced in a statement by the PSWU–NIA Divisional Executive Council, follows months of frustration, broken assurances, and a lack of clear commitment from the Ministry of Finance despite several rounds of negotiation.
“This difficult but necessary decision has become inevitable,” the union said, adding that workers across the NIA’s head office, regional offices, district branches, and premium centres had been placed under significant financial and emotional strain.
Allowance stalled since January
The Operational Support Allowance was agreed upon following negotiations in July 2024 involving the PSWU, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and the Ministry of Finance.
It was subsequently implemented from August through December 2024, providing what the union described as the only financial cushion to supplement NIA workers’ “meagre basic pay.”
However, payments came to a halt at the beginning of 2025. Despite persistent follow-ups and assurances from NIA management, including a public statement on June 18, 2025, promising that funds would be released “very, very soon,” no disbursement has been made.
The tipping point came after a final meeting with the Finance Ministry on Monday, June 23, 2025, which ended without a clear timeline or resolution.
Union leaders said staff had exercised “remarkable patience” for nearly six months, only to be met with what they described as persistent neglect and a lack of urgency from the Ministry of Finance.
“Repeated follow-ups, constructive engagement, and our demonstrated willingness to cooperate in good faith have regrettably not been met with the seriousness this issue demands,” the union stated.
“This industrial action is not taken lightly. It reflects the deep frustration of staff who have endured this situation for far too long.”
The PSWU expressed appreciation for stakeholders who attempted to mediate, but noted that those efforts had failed to produce tangible results.
Strike to continue until full payment is made
Effective immediately, all PSWU members within the NIA have been instructed to withdraw their services.
This includes officers involved in national identification processes at all operational levels.
The union is, however, keeping the door open to further negotiations.
“We remain open to returning to the negotiation table, but only if it results in the prompt and full payment of the owed allowance,” the statement said.
The PSWU also urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding throughout the industrial action, even as public services at the NIA grind to a halt.
