The Federation of Non-Academic Staff Unions in Universities–Ghana has called for the immediate suspension and review of a policy directive issued by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) on retirement in public universities.
In a letter dated February 6, 2026, and addressed to the Director-General of GTEC, the unions warned that the policy, if implemented, could disrupt the academic calendar of public universities across the country.
The unions described the policy as unfair, arbitrary, and discriminatory against non-teaching employees, arguing that it was developed without prior engagement or consultation with the unions representing affected staff.
According to them, the directive undermines existing conditions of service and university statutes that allow staff to roll over their retirement to the end of the academic year, rather than retiring strictly in the month of birth.
As such, they further rejected what they described as an impression that non-teaching staff do not matter in university governance and administration, stressing that their role is critical to the effective functioning of public universities.
The letter noted that universities have already issued retirement notices to staff based on academic calendar timelines, which have informed how affected workers planned their lives towards retirement.
The unions argued that enforcing a sudden change would be unjust and detrimental to staff who had already made personal and professional arrangements.
The Federation warned that failure to withdraw the policy within two weeks of the letter’s service would compel the unions to take further action.
“We wish to serve notice that if, within two weeks, the policy is not withdrawn and affected staff are forced to exit employment in the month of birth instead of the end of the academic year, the unions will advise themselves,” the letter stated.
Copies of the letter were forwarded to the Ministers of Education and Labour, Jobs and Employment, as well as the National Labour Commission, the Vice-Chancellors Ghana, and other relevant labour unions within the public university system.
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