NAAT issues FG 21 days ultimatum to embark on strike

The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has, on Thursday, September 26, 2024, given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to embark on an industrial action.

NAAT issued the ultimatum in a letter following its most recent 56th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Federal University, Wukari, on Wednesday, September 25, and Thursday, September 26, respectively.

The letter was entitled “Notice of 21 days ultimatum to embark on an industrial action“.

It was signed by the President of the association, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, and addressed to the Minister of State for Labor and Employment.

The association asked the Federal Government to pay the withheld five and a half months’ worth of salaries amongst other demands.

Failure to do that, it said, its members will down tools at the various universities.

The ultimatum took effect from September 30 and will expire at the end of twenty-one days.

“…if the ultimatum expires and nothing is done…”

NAAT stated that if the ultimatum expires and nothing is done to meet their demands, the union will not be held liable for the strike action.

The letter was also copied to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

It reads: “The leadership of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) wishes to draw your attention to the above subject matter.

“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 below;

“Non-release of enabling circular on CONTISS 14 & 15 for NAAT members as agreed in 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).

“Inadequate infrastructure, dilapidated laboratories, workshops and obsolete equipment.

“Complete/total negligence of the training of academic technologists on the use of modern equipment and ICT.

“The Honourable 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.”

NAAT rejects “no-work-no-pay” policy

It is noteworthy that the Federal Government had invoked the “no-work-no-pay” policy.

NAAT, however, rejected the policy, saying that all due processes as contained in the Trade Union Act were followed.

The letter reads further: “This led to our members being owed five and a half months salary.

“Regardless of all the 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 the withheld salary while NAAT members were not paid.

“This prompted the union to embark on a three (3) day warning strike/ protest to demand the payment of the five and half months’ salaries of NAAT members.

“The three-day warning strike was suspended only after an appeal and promise to pursue the issue within short period by the Honourable Ministers of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman and that of State, Dr. Yusuf Sununu.

“It is now September 2024, NAAT members have not been paid the withheld salary even after a pronouncement made by the Honourable Minister of State, Labour and Employment that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the payment of withheld salaries to all university-based unions in full.”

Suspension of 2022 strike

NAAT further recalled the conditions that led to the suspension of the strike in 2022.

It said the commitment to release fifty billion Naira to offset all earned allowances for university staff.

The statement continues: “Furthermore, NAAT also wishes to state that part of the resolutions that led to the suspension of the strike in 2022 was the commitment to release fifty billion (N50,000,000,000) Naira for payment of Earned Allowances for University staff.

“It is pertinent to note that item 7 of the resolution of 17th August, 2022 clearly stated that the fifty billion naira is for the payment of Earned Allowances (EA) and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

“In view of the foregoing, at its 56th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on September 25th and 26th, 2024 at Federal University Wukari, Taraba State after exhaustive deliberations, unanimously resolved to issue a three-week ultimatum to the federal government to resolve above mentioned demands failure which the Union will have no option than to embark on an industrial action without further notice.

“NAAT calls on all well-meaning Nigerians, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil societies and student leadership to prevail on Federal Government on the above demands,” it concluded.

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