NAAT Declares Nationwide Protest Over 5 Months Withheld Salaries

NAAT, on Wednesday announced a nationwide protest over the 5 months withheld salaries and unfulfilled agreements with the Federal Government.

NAAT has also said it will picket the Ministry of Finance on November 14 for the failure to implement President Bola Tinubu’s directive that the withheld salaries should be paid.

The protest which is expected to commence midnight of 6th November, 2024, will have all branches of the union across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education mobilised to press home their demands.

President of NAAT, Comrade, Ibeji Nwokoma, who declared the protest after the union’s National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja, also gave the Federal Government  a two-week ultimatum starting from October 30, 2024, as a final opportunity to resolve the their grievances.

Comrade Nwokoma at the media briefing in Abuja, reeled out a list of long-standing demands that include the payment of five and a half months of withheld salaries and the full implementation of a 2009 agreement with NAAT.

He explained that the agreement, encompasses critical items such as allowances for academic technologists, provisions for student training programs, and the enhancement of staff-to-student ratios.

It  urged the government to among other things release funds for upgrading university laboratories and to address the broader issues of underfunding and proliferation of public universities.

Recall that the union had previously issued a three-week ultimatum on 30th September 2024, which expired on October 21.

According to Nwokoma the ultimatum ended without any acknowledgment from government agencies, including the Federal Ministries of Education and Labour and Employment.

NAAT expressed frustration over what it described as government “insensitivity,” pointing to President Bola Tinubu’s recent approval of the withheld salaries that, according to NAAT, has not yet been actioned by the Finance Ministry.

It warned that if the government failed to act by November 13, 2024, it will embark on an indefinite strike, which will  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 Honorable 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 a series of letters, protests, visits, notices of ultimatums, and several Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) freely entered between NAAT and the Federal Government (i.e., MOUs of 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022) as the result of efforts by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Employment as conciliators 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 the 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-week’ ultimatum, branches have been directed to hold congresses and conduct referendums to decide if the union will proceed on strike once the 14-day’ ultimatum expires on the 13th of November 2024. If at the end of the 14-day ultimatum there is no positive response from the government, the union will embark on a national protest, which will culminate in 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,” he added.