The National Labour Commission (NLC) has formally directed four striking university staff unions and relevant government agencies to resume negotiations to resolve long-standing pay and conditions-of-service disputes that triggered industrial action in the public tertiary education sector.
In a statement issued on Thursday, February 19, 2026, the NLC said it expects renewed engagement between the unions and representatives from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the Ministry of Education, and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) within a one-month timeframe. Parties have been directed to report back to the Commission on progress by March 25, 2026.
The directive follows a meeting held on Wednesday, February 18, aimed at addressing outstanding concerns that led to the industrial action declared earlier this month. Among the key issues are unpaid salary arrears associated with staff upgrading at several tertiary institutions, delays in transferring Tier Two pension contributions to fund managers, and disputes over overtime allowances.
The affected unions include:
* Senior Staff Association – Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG)
* Teachers’ and Educational Workers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress (TEWU-TUC)
* Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG)
* Technical Universities Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG)
The NLC’s intervention follows legal action it initiated against the strike, securing a High Court injunction that declared the industrial action unlawful and compelled the unions to suspend it. The unions reportedly halted the strike on February 16 in compliance with the court order.
During the negotiations, the Commission noted that the migration of upgraded staff onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) became effective January 1, 2026, which it said negates salary-related arrears arising from the process. It also confirmed that part of the disputed Tier Two contributions has already been paid, while recognizing that overtime allowances fall under categories negotiated by the Public Service Joint Standing Negotiating Committee.
The NLC has urged all parties to ensure that authorized representatives with decision-making mandates attend subsequent meetings to facilitate meaningful progress.
As negotiations continue , stakeholders are now watching closely to see if the renewed talks will yield a lasting resolution and prevent further disruptions to academic activities in public universities.