The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has given the federal government a 21-day ultimatum to pay the five and a half months withheld salaries of its members, among other demands, or face industrial action.
According to NAAT President, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, “The leadership of the National Association of Academic Technologists wishes to draw your attention to the above subject matter.”
In a letter addressed to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nwokoma stated, “Arising from the 56th National Executive Council meeting held at Federal University Wukari on Wednesday, 25th and Thursday, 26th September, 2024, the union is compelled to issue this notice of a three-week ultimatum as a result of failure of government to keep to the promises and assurances given on the payment of the five and half months withheld salaries of NAAT members even after a presidential directive of over five months ago and other outstanding issues.”
NAAT’s demands include:
– Payment of withheld salaries for five and a half months
– Non-release of enabling circular on CONTISS 14 & 15 for NAAT members as agreed in 2017 MoU
– Payment of arrears of minimum wage to omitted NAAT members (April 2019 to January 2020)
– Payment of arrears of 25% and 35% salary increase (January to December, 2023)
– Inadequate infrastructure, dilapidated laboratories, workshops, and obsolete equipment
– Complete/total negligence of training academic technologists on modern equipment and ICT
“The minister is to note that at the expiration of the three-weeks and without any positive results from government, the union will be forced to commence industrial action without further notice,” Nwokoma warned.
It would be recalled that NAAT initiated an industrial action from March 21, 2022, that ended in August, 2022, after series of meetings held at the instance of the then Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, where a resolution dated August 17, 2022, was reached.
NAAT lamented that all the issues that led to the strike were yet to be resolved by the federal government, despite the resolutions reached, which included the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NAAT Agreement.
The association also raised concerns over the non-provision of funds for upgrade of public universities’ laboratories, workshops, and studios, and obsolete equipment.
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