By Cross Udo, Abuja
The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) yesterday declared a trade dispute with the Federal Ministry of Education and National Universities Commission (NUC) over the discriminatory sharing formula for the recently approved N50bn earmarked for payment of Earned Allowances and the payment of seven months’ arrears of Occupational Hazard Allowance and others.
NAAT demanded that the Federal Government release separate N50bn Earned Allowances to its members in accordance with the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the government in 2022.
It also rightly rejected the allocation of 20 per cent of the approved N50bn Earned Allowances to three unions, while the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) takes 80 per cent.
As approved by the government, the three unions to share 20 per cent of the N50bn are NAAT, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and the Non-Academic Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).
In a statement yesterday, NAAT said that the resolution to demand N50 bn be paid to its members and the rejection of the sharing formula for the approved money for the four university-based unions were reached after its emergency virtual National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
NAAT President Ibeji Nwokoma signed the statement titled, “Rejection of the unfair and unjust sharing formula adopted by the Federal Ministry of Education on the N50bn earmarked for payment of Earned Allowances. “
It read, “The NEC of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) outrightly rejects the unfair and unjust sharing formula adopted by the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and National Universities Commission (NUC) of 80 per cent to members of ASUU and 20 per cent to members of NAAT, NASU and SSANU.
“NAAT as a critical stakeholder in the University Education sub-sector could not understand the wisdom and parameters employed to arrive at such an obnoxious decision where a public officer entrusted with the welfare of staff under his Ministry and indeed all Nigerians could endorse such a decision irrespective of the effects such actions could generate.
The practice where public officers promote uneven and lopsided allocation of funds meant for payment of Earned Allowances to all categories of University staff leaves much to be desired.
“NAAT condemns such actions and calls for their immediate reversal in the interest of industrial peace and harmonious working relationships between various system stakeholders.
“To avoid doubt, the university system is anchored on contributions from several stakeholders. The role of academic technologists in promoting teaching and research is the core mandate of every University.
“Therefore, the plan to relegate academic technologists would also cripple the backbone of teaching, research and innovations in our Universities and attendant consequences of producing unemployable graduates due to lack of needed skills that they could have acquired in the laboratories, workshops, farms and studios under the guidance and mentorship of academic technologists thereby defeating the recently introduced Federal Government policy of engaging students in more practical and less theory.”
“Furthermore, NAAT demands an immediate commencement of processes by the FME for the release of a separate N50bn to take care of Earned Allowances of NAAT members as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 17th August, 2022 signed between Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and NAAT since the FME decided to allocate the recently released funds to ASUU members.”
It further said, “The action of the Honourable Minister of Education and the Executive Secretary of NUC reminds one of the era of apartheid where discrimination was the order of the day.”
The association noted that, in 2022, it embarked on an indefinite strike action alongside three other unions to press home its demands.
According to the statement, NAAT suspended the strike action only after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) containing several settlement terms, including the release of N50bn for payment of Earned Allowance to members of all four Unions.
“Specifically, item 7 of the resolution of 17th August, 2022, clearly stated that the N50bn is for the payment of Earned Allowances (EA) and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).
“However, the same Ministry allocates 80 per cent to only one Union to the detriment of three others.
“NAAT demands fairness, equity, justice and fair play for all and calls on well-meaning Nigerians who reject injustice in all its ramifications under whatever guise to rise and call for immediate reversal of this sharing arrangement favouring one over three others.
We are the Academic Technologists, and we will continue to demand our rights and promote a fair and just University system.
“Meanwhile, NAAT resolved to declare a trade dispute with Federal Ministry of Education and National Universities Commission on issues bordering on welfare of our members on the sharing formula of the recently released N50bn earmarked for payment of Earned Allowances and the payment of seven (7) month arrears of Occupational Hazard Allowance and others.”
