The National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, Federal University Lokoja Chapter has embarked on a three-day warning strike following the non-payment of their four months of withheld salaries during the 2022 industrial action by University Unions.
Recall that the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had implemented “No Work no pay” during the 2022 Strike but President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023 granted a waiver and ordered the payment of the four months withheld salaries.
Worried by the unfair treatment meted to members of NAAT, Chairman of the Association, Jibril Oni Ilepinran said four unions namely; Academic Staff Unions of Universities, ASUU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU and NAAT were affected by the withheld salaries but only one was paid the four months salaries by the government.
Ilepinran noted that neglecting the remaining three is unacceptable and unfair, saying that efforts to meet relevant leaders including those in the Presidency proved abortive.
He said the warning strike was at the instance of the National Executive Council, NEC, of the Association.
In his words “It is my pleasure to join my voice with others to express our dismay on the action of the Federal Government to the whole world as a result of selective favour and injustice displayed among the four based unions in the Federal Universities.
“In the year 2022, members of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the other three based unions at the Federal Universities namely Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) embarked on nationwide strike demanding for better working conditions, the then Administration under President Muhammadu Buhari instead of given the unions a listening ear, invoked ‘no work on pay’ policy which lead to salaries of Universities Staff been withheld for months.
“In 2023 the present President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu stated publicly a waiver on the policy of ‘no work no pay’ and directed that four months withheld salaries should be paid across board to Federal University workers. To our shock, only one union was paid leaving the other three namely NAAT, NASU and SSANU unattended.
“The National Executive Council (NEC) of the NAAT has no other option after the leadership of the union had written a letter of appeal for equity, fairness and justice to the Minister of Labour and other stakeholders dated 16th February 2024 which none of them either responded nor acknowledged till date resolved at the end of its emergency virtual meeting held on Wednesday 13th March 2024 to embark on a 3-day warning strike and nationwide protest on the first day commencing today Wednesday 20th to Friday 22nd March 2024.
“This is to enable the union to press home its demand for the payment of withheld salaries of members of NAAT as approved by the presidency. It is important to note that all segments of the Universities complement one another to achieve the vision and mission of establishing Universities. The union is calling on the Federal Government to do the needful or be held responsible for any distraction of academic activities in our universities as we embark on a nationwide strike.
The Association also embarked on a peaceful protest against the injustice meted out to its members, carrying placards with various inscriptions including; Academic Technologists are important in the University System, Pay us our Sweat! It is Earned, NAAT: We have suffered Enough, Pay Us Now.
