The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has issued a stern warning to the federal government, giving a 21-day ultimatum to address the long-standing issue of withheld salaries and other grievances. The ultimatum was announced following NAAT’s 56th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Taraba State. If the government fails to act by the deadline, NAAT members plan to withdraw their services in universities across Nigeria.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, signed by NAAT President Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, the association highlighted several unmet demands. These include the payment of five and a half months of withheld salaries, the release of a circular regarding CONTISS 14 & 15, payment of minimum wage arrears for omitted members from April 2019 to January 2020, and the disbursement of salary increases for 2023.
The letter, also sent to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Universities Commission (NUC), emphasized the critical state of university facilities, pointing out inadequate infrastructure, dilapidated laboratories, and obsolete equipment. The union is particularly concerned about the government’s neglect of training for academic technologists on modern equipment and information and communication technology (ICT).
“Arising from the NEC meeting held at Federal University Wukari, the union is compelled to issue this notice of a three-week ultimatum due to the government’s failure to fulfill promises regarding the payment of withheld salaries,” the letter stated. It warned that if no positive results are achieved by the ultimatum’s expiration, the union would have no choice but to initiate industrial action without further notice.
This ultimatum comes on the heels of a previous strike initiated by NAAT on March 21, 2022, which lasted until August 2022. The previous strike resulted from unresolved issues, despite a resolution reached during negotiations with the then-Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu. NAAT has expressed frustration that the federal government has not made significant progress in addressing the grievances that led to that industrial action.
The situation underscores the ongoing challenges facing Nigeria’s academic sector, with growing discontent among educators over salary issues and the deteriorating state of educational facilities. As the ultimatum progresses, many are watching to see how the government will respond to avert a potential crisis in the nation’s universities.
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