NAAT gives Fed Govt two-week strike notice over withheld salaries
• Union threatens to withdraw service November 6
The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has given the Federal Government two weeks to pay the withheld salaries of its members or face a nationwide strike.
The union asked its members to embark on a nationwide protest on November 6 to press home its demands.
It directed all of its branches in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to mobilise their members to press home their demands.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed that 50 per cent of the withheld salaries of university-based unions be paid to them, following their strike in 2022.
The union had issued a three-week ultimatum on September 30, which expired on October 21.
NAAT President Ibeji Nwokoma, who declared the ultimatum after the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting yesterday in Abuja, urged the Federal Government to resolve their grievances before the end of the ultimatum.Related News
The union leader said earlier ultimatums ended without any acknowledgment from government agencies, including the Federal Ministries of Education and Labour and Employment.
Addressing reporters after the union’s NEC meeting, Nwokoma said: “Several efforts were made in the past, including series of letters, protests, visits, notices of ultimatums and several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) freely entered between NAAT and Federal Government (that is, MoUs 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 additional two weeks’ ultimatum, with effect from October 30, 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 weeks’ ultimatum, branches have been directed to hold congresses and conduct referendum to decide if the union will proceed on strike once the 14 days’ ultimatum expires on November 13, 2024. If at the end of the 14-day ultimatum there is no positive response from 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.”
