Paying neutrality allowance won’t make anyone neutral – Wa West MP
Legislator for Wa West, Peter Toobu has waded into the neutrality allowance debate by questioning the basis for the demand for neutrality allowance by some public sector workers.
The government’s inability to pay the allowance which is to ensure that civil and local government workers do not dabble in politics in the line of duty has led to the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) embarking on industrial action.
The introduction of the allowance has been opposed by many, but the workers say it is in order.
However, a lawmaker for Wa West, who happens to be a former police officer, asked the government to adopt a more tenable way of eliminating partisan politics in the civil service.
“I have been wondering. The allowance will not make workers politically neutral. Paying them such an allowance won’t make them neutral. We should rather have a system that will ensure that it is not possible for them to meddle in partisan politics. Let’s agree that it’s an allowance that can cushion them, but as to whether the amount of money will determine their neutrality, I have my doubts.”
Also, the government has requested more time to end negotiations with CLOGSAG, on the payment of the political neutrality allowance.
This was after a meeting between the Ministries of Finance, Labour and Employment Relations, CLOGSAG and the National Labour Commission (NLC) on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
At the end of the meeting, Deputy Labour Minister, Bright Wireko Brobbey, said they are optimistic that all outstanding issues will be resolved by Friday, April 29, 2022.
“We are still talking, and we have not completed the discussions yet, so we have requested a bit of time. So we are hoping by Friday, we will be done. Engagements are happening between both parties; government and CLOGSAG, so by Friday, we will bring finality to the matter. The discussions are ongoing.”
The demand for the Neutrality Allowance has generated public debate with divided opinions on the relevance of such an allowance
