Government has made a passionate appeal to striking NAGRAT members to repose good faith in government and reconsider their decision. Deputy Minister of Education Mahama Ayariga, who made the plea, said the strike was called too early whilst negotiations were on-going, saying NAGRAT’s action does “not give the negotiation the opportunity to make the best offer”. He told Dzifa Bampoh on Joy FM’s Top Story Thursday that; “Whilst negotiations are going on, it is best that our teachers, at least, make their services available to the students so that we will consider the merits of the offers and counter offers that are being made.” The graduate teachers in Accra started the strike action on Monday before it spread to all the regions except Ashanti and Volta. The NAGRAT members are protesting a decision by government to pay their salary arrears over a period of four years. Chairman of Western region NAGRAT, Samuel Frank Dadzie, told Joy News his members remain resolute on their decision. “We decided to suspend work because we asked the government to give us a payment schedule as to when our arrears of 21 months would be paid to us, and that has not come. It was only last Monday that they called a meeting, and the information we have gathered is that the government want to take 36 months to pay us the arrears. “Already these monies have been standing for 21 months, the value has been dissipated and so teachers cannot wait for 36 more months.” Jacob Anaba, Chairman of NAGRAT in Brong Ahafo, said government’s decision to spread their arrears over four years “is unacceptable”, adding “in fact our members are angry with that statement”. But deputy Minister Ayariga said the arrears was incurred when the increased base rate of teachers’ was backdated. He further stated that when they were migrated onto the single spine salary structure, salaries were increased, and also backdated. “So when he says that they have 21 months arrears, it is not the case. It is 13 months for the single spine arrears, and then 8 months for the base pay increase.” Mr Ayariga, however, appealed to the teachers to continue meeting the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to thrash out issues. He also explained that the four years payment method was not meant for only NAGRAT but for all the public servants being migrated onto the new pay policy. “So government made an initial offer, that given the amount involved and given the fact that it covers all public servants, it will take us this period of time to pay. Government is waiting for their (GMA's) counter offer because this is negotiation. This is the offer from government, you should also tell us what your counter offer is, and we will negotiate. So we are surprised that whilst negotiation is going on, our teachers – NAGRAT – have decided to declare strike action.”