KUNLE OLUTAYO
NIGERIA: The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has directed the immediate mobilisation of members for a nationwide protest if the government fails to pay following the recent commencement of payment of four months withheld salaries to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the exclusion of the three other University based unions.
NAAT President, Ibeji Nwokoma, in a statement issued described the exclusion of his members in the payment as unfair and unjust, even as he directed all its members to immediately commence mobilisation for a nationwide protest if the government fails to pay.
President Bola Tinubu had recently approved that four out of about seven months withheld salaries of the university based unions should be paid to the involved university based unions, who went on strike between February to August 2022.
The unions are ASUU, NAAT, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU
It was reliably gathered that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has started paying ASUU the said four months withheld salaries in exclusion of the other three unions.
“The leadership of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) is compelled to issue this press statement as a response to the worrisome information available to the Union on the selective payment by Government in the payment of withheld salaries to members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), while excluding members of NAAT and two other University Based Unions (NASU & SSANU).
“This indeed is a recipe for industrial crisis and a total breakdown of academic activities at such a time peace was returning to our campuses. The federal Government should therefore be held responsible for any industrial disharmony due to their actions and inactions.
“It is important to draw the attention of the general public to the fact that, the struggle the Union embarked upon was for the betterment of University Education which was spearheaded by all the University Based Unions, National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
“Therefore, NAAT wonders the rationale behind the selective treatment. This is a calculated attempt to deny our members their entitlements and create disaffection within the system that will further plunge the Universities into more avoidable crises. These divide and rule tactics of the Government will not and must not be allowed to stand. Equity, fairness and justice should be the guiding principles expected of Federal Government.
“It is worthy to note that the Honourable Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, SAN at the high-level stakeholders meeting held at the NUC Auditorium on 11th January, 2024, where Vice-Chancellors, Union leaders and all stakeholders were present stated that nobody will be short-changed.
“He stated further that the approval by Mr. President on the payment of the withheld salaries covers all the University Based Unions and that Federal Government is determined to do everything humanly possible to avoid any disruption of academic activities in our campuses.
“Moreover, the laboratory/ workshop and studio work lost during the strike has been covered by Academic Technologists as students had since graduated and some completed the mandatory National Youth Service program.
“Meanwhile, NAAT National leadership has directed all Branches nationwide to commence sensitization and mobilisation in anticipation of a nationwide protest on a date to be announced soon, if these issues at stake are not adequately addressed.
“Lastly, NAAT once again, wishes to call on the general public, stakeholders and well- meaning Nigerians to intervene and prevail on the Federal Government to ensure payment of the withheld salaries in full and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 17th August, 2022 signed freely by the then Honourable Minister of Education, Mal. Adamu Adamu on behalf of the Federal Government and NAAT for a sustainable industrial harmony.”
NAAT had written to the Minister of Education for his prompt intervention in order to ensure the relative industrial harmony being enjoyed in the universities.
The association in a letter signed by its President, Ibeji Nwokoma and the General Secretary, Engr. Abubakar Yusuf, said the selective payment has pitched the membership of the Union against the leadership and is creating a charged atmosphere, adding that it is a recipe for total disruption of academic activities in campuses.
The letter read: “The leadership of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) commends the good efforts of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in repositioning the Country towards economic growth and prosperity through the Renewed Hope Agenda and his commitment towards uplifting the Educational sector through infrastructural and human capital development, especially with regard to recent release of about Six Hundred and Thirty Billion Naira (N630bn) only intervention to Universities and other Tertiary Institutions, as approved by the President and announced by the Executive Secretary of TETFund.
“The leadership of NAAT wishes to state that information available to us as a Union, indicates that Federal Government directed the Office of Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) to effect payment of the withheld salaries to ONLY members of a sister Union to the exclusion of members of NAAT and two other University Based Unions,
“It should be noted that at the high-level stakeholders meeting held on the 11th January, 2024 at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Auditorium, on the modalities, of exiting from IPPIS, one of the major highlights and take-home message was the statement made by Honourable Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, SAN to the effect that all arrangements were concluded by Federal Government on the payment of withheld salties to all members of University Based Unions in Federal Universities and the implementation of the new salary structure of 25% and 35% salary increase for all workers in Educational Tertiary Institutions to the delight of everybody present including the Vice-chancellors and the Union leaders.
“The Minister further stated that the present Federal Government is determined to do everything humanly possible to avoid industrial unrest in our Educational Tertiary Institutions.
“In the light of the above, we find it very difficult to reconcile the Honourable Minister’s pronouncement with the action of the Federal Government to pay ONLY members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) the withheld salaries to the exclusion of members of our Union.
“We view this attempt as very unfair and unjust as it pitches the membership of our Union against the leadership and is creating a charged atmosphere as it is a recipe for total disruption of academic activities in our campuses.
“The Honourable Minister Sir, it is pertinent to draw your attention to the current economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians, including our members occasioned by removal of petroleum subsidy, which has made life very unbearable due to high cost of leaving coupled with the purchasing power of our currency being grossly eroded, rendering the salaries of workers with little or no value.
“The persistent failure of Federal Government to honour and implement agreements freely entered through collective bargaining was what led the Unions in University sector to embark on the strike action in the first place.
“Moreover, the laboratory/ workshop and studio work lost during the strike has been covered by Academic Technologists as students had since graduated and some completed the mandatory National Youth Service program.
“These agreements include the recent 16-point agreement freely signed with the two Labour Centres, Nigerian Labour Congress (NIC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed between our Union and Federal Government where the non-implementation has further compounded an already precarious situation.
“It is only fair and reasonable for Federal Government to ruminate on the path taken which in our opinion is unfair and will not guarantee peaceful coexistence and industrial harmony that we all desire.
“We therefore strongly appeal to the Honourable Minister to look at the plight of our members and expeditiously pay the over five-month withheld salaries, implement the 25% and 35% approved salary increase with arrears and release the arrears of earned allowances of NAAT members as contained in the MoU signed between NAAT and Federal Government on 17 August, 2022.”
