Mohammed Abdul-Salam, NLA boss
The Local Union of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) has issued a formal notice of intent to embark on industrial action from June 24, 2026, accusing management of failing to address “long-standing operational inefficiencies” that threaten staff welfare and the Authority’s survival.
In a strongly worded five-page notice addressed to management, and signed by the Union Chair, Eric Tamakloe and Secretary Murphy Adu-Kwao, the Union said it had exhausted “patience, social dialogue, and industrial civility” after repeated petitions and engagements yielded no results.
The Union warned that a total shutdown will begin if a “concrete, satisfactory, and enforceable agreement” is not reached by 5:00 p.m. on June 19, 2026.
“Barren, Substandard” Workplaces
The Union listed 10 non-negotiable grievances. Chief among them are what it called “deplorable working conditions” across NLA offices. Staff, it said, lack functional laptops, stationery, and basic office equipment, while photocopiers, scanners, and printers have broken down, creating administrative bottlenecks.
Some workers endure “stifling, poorly ventilated environments” due to faulty air conditioning, and sanitation facilities have degenerated into an “unhygienic state,” posing health hazards. Organisational housing for staff has also fallen into “severe structural decay” due to neglected maintenance.
Obsolete tools hurting revenue
Frontline staff and Licensed Marketing Companies are reportedly burdened by obsolete Point of Sale terminals plagued by network failures and hardware degradation. The Union said this causes lost revenue, customer hostility, and “extreme mental fatigue,” while recent attempts to deploy new terminals through Fidelity Bank have stalled. It alleged the delays create room for private lotto operators to thrive.
Recruitment, compliance, and safety concerns
The Union also accused management of “arbitrary, non-transparent recruitment” that bypasses the Collective Agreement, ignoring internal advertising and union consultation despite citing financial constraints.
The Union also cited “dereliction of duty” in regulatory enforcement, claiming unvetted private operators are cannibalising NLA’s market share and threatening job security.
Field staff are said to use “unroadworthy” vehicles, putting drivers and officers at risk, while delayed payment of lottery wins has damaged the NLA’s reputation and exposed frontline workers to backlash from aggrieved players. The Union questioned the Authority’s liquidity and escrow management.
Governance and welfare disputes
The notice raised alarm over outsourcing core payment software, FAST-PAY and FAST-CREDIT, to a dismissed former staff member accused of misconduct. The Union called it a “catastrophic breach of corporate governance” and a security risk, saying the individual is being considered for a lucrative contract without procurement processes.
Other grievances include the delayed Scheme of Service, which has “frozen staff stagnation” and denied promotions, and the stalled Health Insurance Scheme, leaving staff financially vulnerable under a cash-and-carry system.
The Union also condemned a Ministry of Finance directive to divert Good Causes Foundation proceeds to the LEAP programme, calling it “severe misappropriation” that strips staff of welfare support.
Union demands and deadline
To avert the strike, the Union demanded immediate procurement of working tools and POS machines, a freeze on irregular recruitment, enforcement against illegal operators, grounding of unroadworthy vehicles, prompt payment of wins, termination of contracts with the dismissed staffer, implementation of the Scheme of Service and health insurance, and restoration of Good Causes funds.
“We remain open to urgent, high-level mediation, but we will no longer accept vague promises or stalling tactics,” the Union said. “The safety, dignity, and livelihood of our workers are paramount.”
NLA management had not issued a public response at the time of filing this report.
A Daily Guide Report