Varsity Workers Threaten Strike Over Withheld Salaries

•Issues 21-Day Ultimatum

The National Association of Academic Technologists has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to pay the five and a half months of withheld salaries among other demands, or its members will withdraw their services in universities.

This ultimatum was part of NAAT’s resolutions during its 56th National Executive Council meeting held in Taraba State.

Part of its demands includes, payment of arrears of minimum wage to omitted NAAT members (from April 2019 to January 2020); payment of arrears of 25% and 35% salary increase (from January to December 2023); inadequate infrastructure, dilapidated laboratories, workshops, obsolete equipment, among others.

Following the NEC meeting, a letter titled “Notice of 21-Day Ultimatum to Embark on Industrial Action” was sent to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, while Nigeria Labour Congress and the National Universities Commission, were also copied.

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The letter signed by the association’s President, Ibeji Nwokoma, warned that the union would not be held responsible if no action was taken to address their numerous demands after the expiration of the ultimatum, which commenced on September 30.

The letter partly reads, “The leadership of the National Association of Academic Technologists wishes to draw your attention to the above subject matter.

“Arising from the 56th National Executive Council meeting held at the Federal University of Wukari on Wednesday, September 25, and Thursday, September 26, 2024, the union is compelled to issue this notice of a three-week ultimatum due to the government’s failure to fulfill the promises and assurances made regarding the payment of the five and a half months of withheld salaries of NAAT members, even after a presidential directive was issued over five months ago.

“The honourable minister is to note that upon the expiration of the three-week ultimatum, and without any positive results from the government, the union will be forced to commence industrial action without further notice,” the union said.

It will be recalled that NAAT initiated an industrial action on March 21, 2022, which ended in August 2022 after a series of meetings convened by the then Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, leading to a resolution dated August 17, 2022.

The association lamented that all the issues that led to the strike remain unresolved by the Federal Government, despite the resolutions reached, including the non-conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NAAT Agreement.

NAAT had also raised alarms regarding the lack of funds for upgrading public universities’ laboratories, workshops, and studios, as well as outdated equipment.

A statement signed by NAAT’s President indicated that “It is important to note that the Federal Government invoked the ‘No-Work-No-Pay’ policy, which NAAT rejected, as all due processes outlined in the Trade Union Act were followed.

“This led to our members being owed five and a half months’ salary. Despite all efforts to resolve the issues peacefully through dialogue, the Federal Government has not paid the withheld salaries, despite promises made by government representatives and a presidential directive.

“In March 2024, a sister union was paid four months’ arrears of withheld salaries, while NAAT members were not compensated.”