LAST week there was this announcement to the effect that government has increased the monthly allowance (popularly referred to as alawa) of National Service personnel. A statement signed by the acting Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Ussif Mustapha, announced that government has approved an upward adjustment of National Service personnel allowance from the hitherto GH¢350.00 to GH¢559.04 with effect from April 1.
IT means, therefore, that each service person will from this month (April 2017) receive a monthly allowance of GH¢559.04. We are sure the news of the upward review of the allowance was refreshing to many of the service personnel.
OF course there are still many personnel who still believe the increment is not enough. That is a matter Today will look at another time.
BUT now we think that government must be commended for its efforts to cushion students who undertake the one-year mandatory national service. Before the increment, there have been statements to the effect that the national service allowance had been increased by the Mahama-led administration.
THAT matter became a back-and-forth thing between the previous administration led by former President John Dramani Mahama and the current government. But now that it has finally been resolved and service personnel will enjoy this new allowance, Today seizes this opportunity to applaud government for taking this step.
IT is no secret that one of the reasons why many graduates refuse to do national service is because of the allowance which many describe as a pittance. It has been a source of agitation by service personnel over the years, with many even questioning the relevance of the scheme.
BESIDES the increment, one issue that NSS must seriously look at is payment of the allowance. Oftentimes, allowances of service personnel delay unnecessarily. Sometimes the delays run into several months.
THE delay of the allowance no doubt brings untold hardships on national service personnel who are posted to various institutions across the country. It is in this regard that Today is calling on government to ensure the prompt payment of the monthly allowances of service personnel.
WE believe that when this is done service personnel will be motivated to commit themselves wholly to their national assignments. It is therefore our hope that service personnel will reciprocate government’s gesture and give off their best in their lines of duty for the betterment of mother Ghana.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.
