R
Richard Ogunsile
Guest
The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has declared its intention to stage a nationwide protest in response to the five months of unpaid salaries and unmet agreements with the Federal Government.
NAAT has also scheduled a picket at the Ministry of Finance on November 14, citing the government’s failure to act on President Bola Tinubu’s directive regarding the payment of the withheld salaries.
Naija News understands that the protest is set to begin at midnight on November 6, 2024, with all branches of the union across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education mobilized to advocate for their demands.
Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, President of NAAT, made the announcement following a meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja. He issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government, starting from October 30, 2024, as a final chance to address their concerns.
During a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Comrade Nwokoma outlined a series of longstanding demands, including the payment of five and a half months of withheld salaries and the full implementation of a 2009 agreement with NAAT.
He emphasized that the agreement includes essential provisions such as allowances for academic technologists, support for student training programs, and improvements in staff-to-student ratios.
The union also called on the government to allocate funds for upgrading university laboratories and to tackle the broader issues of underfunding and the proliferation of public universities.
It is important to note that the union had previously issued a three-week ultimatum on September 30, 2024, which lapsed on October 21.
Nwokoma reported that the ultimatum concluded without any response from government entities, including the Federal Ministries of Education and Labour and Employment.
The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) voiced its dissatisfaction regarding what it termed the government’s “insensitivity.” This sentiment was underscored by President Bola Tinubu’s recent endorsement of the disbursed salaries, which NAAT claims have yet to be implemented by the Finance Ministry.
The President of NAAT declared that, during the two-week period, local branches would hold congresses to decide through a referendum whether to intensify the protest into a full-scale strike.
It warned that if the government failed to act by November 13, 2024, it would embark on an indefinite strike, which would potentially impact academic calendars and critical research activities across the tertiary education system.
The NAAT President, in the prepared text he read, said, “It is quite unfortunate and regrettable too, that despite the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s waiver and approval to pay five and half month salaries owed NAAT members, the refusal by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to effect this approval raises more questions than answers on the true commitment and sincerity on the part of Federal Government in resolving the issues.
“Several efforts were made in the past, including series of letters, protests, visits, notices of ultimatums and several Memorandum of Understanding (MOUS) freely entered between NAAT and Federal Government (i.e MOU of 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022) as the result of efforts by Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment as conciliator of the Federal Government but all to no avail”.
“Consequent upon the above, the Union having reviewed the situation critically, decided to give the Federal Government an additional two (2) weeks ultimatum, with effect from 30th of October 2024. Meanwhile, the National Executive Council (NEC) has directed all her Branches in Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education to hold a nationwide protest to drive home our demands.
“Within the two weeks ultimatum, Branches have been directed to hold congresses and conduct a referendum to decide if the Union will proceed on strike once the 14 days ultimatum expires on the 13th of November 2024. If at the end of the 14-day ultimatum no positive response from the Government, the union will embark on a national protest which will culminate into a total and indefinite strike without recourse to government”.
“It is hoped that the government will avail itself of this window to resolve the issues on the ground, with the view to averting any industrial action.
“This decision is in line with our concern for the tertiary education system so as not to disrupt the academic calendar which will eventually affect research and practical teaching; laboratory, workshop, farm and studio practices and the attendant monumental loss of resources.”
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