By Cross Udo, Abuja
The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) announced a nationwide protest over the five months of withheld salaries and unfulfilled agreements with the Federal Government.
NAAT has also said it will picket the Ministry of Finance on November 14 for failing to implement President Bola Tinubu’s directive that the withheld salaries be paid.
This is because it has directed all its branch chairmen to commence mobilising their members so that in the event that its demands are not met, there will be a national protest/picketing of relevant government agencies on November 14, 2024.
The protest, which is expected to commence at midnight on November 6th, 2024, will see all branches of the union across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education mobilized to press home their demands.
NAAT President, 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 their grievances.
Nwokoma, at the media briefing in Abuja, reeled out a list of long-standing demands, including 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 enhancements of staff-to-student ratios.
It urged the government, among other things, to release funds for upgrading university laboratories and to address the broader issues of underfunding and the 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, 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.
NAAT’s President announced that, within the two-week window, local branches would convene congresses to conduct a referendum on whether to escalate the protest into a full strike.
It warned that if the government does not act by November 13, 2024, it will embark on an indefinite strike, potentially impacting 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 Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to effect this approval raises more questions than answers on the steadfast commitment and sincerity on the part of Federal Government in resolving the issues.
“Several efforts were made in the past, including series of letters, protests, visits, notices of ultimatums, and several Memorandum of Understanding (MOUS) freely entered between NAAT and Federal Government (i.e., MOU of 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022) as the result of efforts by Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment as conciliator 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, effective from 30th of October 2024. Meanwhile, the National Executive Council (NEC) has directed all her branches in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to hold nationwide protests to drive home our demands.
“Within the two weeks of the ultimatum, branches have been directed to hold congresses and conduct a referendum to decide if the union will proceed on strike once the 14 days of the ultimatum expire on the 13th of November 2024. Suppose there is no positive response from the government at the end of the 14-day ultimatum. In that case, the union will embark on a national protest culminating 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.
Meanwhile, NAAT has directed its branch chairpersons to mobilize their members without delay for a strike if the government fails to pay them the withheld salaries before the end of the two-week ultimatum.
A memo signed by Comrade Abubakar Yusuf, General Secretary, read: “You may recall that at the end of the 56th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th September 2024, a three-week ultimatum was issued to allow the Federal Government to resolve the issues at stake.
The notice elapsed on October 21st, 2024, as the Federal Government did not deem it necessary to acknowledge it. Consequent to the above, the National EXCO, on behalf of NEC, issued another fourteen-day ultimatum to afford the government a window of opportunity to act accordingly, which is also in line with the Trade Union Act.
“The notice will take effect from 31st October 2024 to 13th November 2024. Furthermore, Branches are directed to take cognizance of the following line of actions: Branches are hereby directed to massively mobilize members for an impending industrial action, as Branch leadership will be held responsible for failures. Branches are directed to hold congresses/referendums and, thereafter, proceed on a protest on the 6th of November 2024.
“Branch leaders are to note that the referendum will decide if the union will proceed on strike at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum on the 13th of November 2024. Branch Chairmen/ Zonal Coordinators are hereby directed to issue press statements/conferences within two weeks’ ultimatum in line with the guidance from the National leadership.
“If our demands are not met, there will be a National protest/ picketing of relevant Government agencies on the 14th of November, 2024.
“Branches that can sponsor members to Abuja to participate in the protest/ picketing are encouraged to do so. While we are taking these actions, members are enjoined to remain calm and resolute as the leadership is on top of the situation, and members should rest assured they will not be left out in any payment of withheld salaries.”
