The Federal Government on Thursday appealed to members of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) not to embark on their proposed nationwide strike, warning that such action could cripple academic activities across the country’s public universities.
The appeal was made during a crucial conciliatory meeting between top government officials and NAAT leadership at the Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja.
Leading the government delegation, Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Maigari Dingyadi, disclosed that a technical committee had been inaugurated to address the union’s grievances, following the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum issued by NAAT.
The minister said the meeting culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at resolving the contentious issues raised by the union.
NAAT is demanding, among others, the mainstreaming of its members’ allowances, payment of withheld salaries, and the completion of the renegotiation of the FGN/NAAT 2009 Agreement.
Other demands include: the implementation of the consequential adjustment of the new national minimum wage, payment of seven and eleven months arrears of Occupational Hazard and Responsibility Allowances respectively, and release of third-party deductions from withheld salaries.
In a statement issued by the spokesperson of the ministry, Mrs Patience Onuobia, the committee is also expected to address arrears of N30,000 minimum wage owed to some omitted NAAT members, revisit the 2019 salary adjustment directive, and follow up on the disbursement of N50 billion earned academic allowances to the union.
“The committee will handle mainstreaming of allowances such as Field Trip, Student Technologist Staff Ratio Supplementation, Student Work Experience Programme (SWEP), and call duty allowances,” Onuobia stated.
She added that the committee will liaise with the National Universities Commission (NUC) to revisit unresolved payments and ensure possible supplementary disbursement to NAAT.
The meeting further resolved to reconvene in three weeks to assess the progress made by the committee and consider its report.
NAAT’s planned industrial action comes amid ongoing strikes by other professional groups, including the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, which has already disrupted activities in health institutions nationwide.
