This is not a Christmas or end-of-year package' – NAGRAT president on delayed allowances.

'This is not a Christmas or end-of-year package' – NAGRAT president on delayed allowances.

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the delayed payment of teachers’ allowances, following comments by its President, Angel Carbonu, during an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem.

Mr. Carbonu disclosed that assurances given to the association just last week regarding the release of the outstanding allowances have not been honoured. He described the situation as frustrating and unfair to teachers who were made to genuinely expect payment within the month.

According to him, the collective agreement between teacher unions and government clearly spells out that the payment should be made in November. He explained that NAGRAT had already informed its members based on this official agreement, and the current delay has understandably created anxiety and disappointment among teachers nationwide.

The NAGRAT President cautioned that the continued delay could stir anger among members if the matter is not addressed urgently. He stressed that the allowance is not meant to serve as a festive or end-of-year reward but is tied to a specific professional purpose. For that reason, he insisted that teachers deserve transparency, honesty, and fairness in the handling of their entitlements.

Mr. Carbonu further expressed dissatisfaction with the way communication on the matter has been managed. He revealed that the official explanation for the delay reached him only on the morning of the radio interview. This late communication, he noted, has created mistrust among teachers, many of whom now feel their leaders failed to protect their interests.

He explained that the union had already made commitments and plans based on the earlier assurances received from government. The lack of timely information, therefore, has left union leaders exposed to criticism from their members, even though the situation was beyond their control.

The concerns raised by NAGRAT follow an official announcement from the Controller and Accountant-General's Department (CAGD), which confirmed that two major categories of allowances expected to be paid in November could not be processed.

In a statement signed by Cephas N. Dosco, Head of Public Relations at CAGD, the department explained that a technical hitch occurred at a critical stage of the final payroll run. The issue, according to the statement, compelled management to temporarily suspend the affected allowances in order to prevent a wider disruption of November salary payments for public sector workers.

CAGD assured workers, particularly those in the education sector who form a large portion of the beneficiaries, that efforts are underway to correct the technical problem. The department indicated that once the issue is fully resolved, the delayed allowances will be processed accordingly.

Meanwhile, the delay has deepened frustration among teachers, with union leaders urging authorities to improve communication and strictly respect collective agreements. As the issue continues to generate national discussion, many teachers remain hopeful that a clear resolution will be announced soon to restore confidence in the payroll system.