The National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to pay the five and half months withheld salaries, or risk an industrial action by its members.
The ultimatum was part of NAAT’s resolutions at its 56th National Executive Council, NEC, meeting held in Taraba State.
A letter signed by the association’s President, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, and addressed to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, explained that the union would not be held responsible, after the expiration of the ultimatum that commenced from September 30, if nothing was done to address their demands.
The letter was copied to the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the National Universities Commission, NUC.
It states, “Arising from the 56th National Executive Council, NEC, 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 as stated.”
Issues highlighted in the letter include non-release of enabling circular on CONTISS 14 & 15 for NAAT members as agreed in the 2017 MoU, payment of arrears of minimum wage to the omitted members of NAAT (April 2019 to January 2020), payment of arrears of 25% and 35% salary increase (January to December, 2023).
The letter also drew attention to inadequate infrastructure, dilapidated laboratories, workshops and obsolete equipment, as well as complete/total negligence of the training of academic technologists on the use of modern equipment and ICT.
According to the letter, the minister is to note that at the expiration of the three-weeks and without any positive results from government, the union would be forced to commence industrial action without further notice.
The NAAT had 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.
The association decried that all the issues that led to the strike were yet to be resolved by the Federal Government, despite the resolutions reached.
