Angry University Workers Threaten Strike Over Withheld 5 Months Salaries
The National Association of Academic Technologists has given the federal government a 21-day ultimatum to pay five and a half months’ unpaid salaries and other demands.
The ultimatum was part of a resolution at NAAT’s 56th National Council Meeting held in Taraba State.
The letter, addressed to the Minister of State for Labor and Employment and signed by the association’s president, Ibeji Nwokoma, warned that the union would not be held responsible if steps were not taken to address the numerous demands of its members after the ultimatum deadline, which began on September 30.
The letter, entitled “Notice of 21-Day Ultimatum to Embark on Industrial Action,” was also sent to the Nigerian Labor Congress and the National Universities Commission.
The letter stated: “The leadership of the National Association of Academic Engineers wishes to draw your attention to the above matter.
“From the 56th National Executive Council Meeting held on Wednesday, September 25 and Thursday, September 26, 2024 at the Federal University, Ukali, regarding the non-payment of five and a half months salaries of NAAT members, the union has been forced to issue a three-week ultimatum because the government has not fulfilled its promises and commitments despite a presidential decree issued over five months ago. The union was forced to issue a three-week ultimatum.
The union listed other outstanding issues: unpaid minimum wages for NAAT members that have not been paid (from April 2019 to January 2020); unpaid 25% and 35% salary increases (from January to December 2023); inadequate infrastructure, dilapidated laboratories, workshops, outdated equipment These include.
The union said, “Your Excellency Minister, please note that if the three-week ultimatum expires and no positive results are forthcoming from the government, the union will be forced to initiate a labor dispute without notice.”
NAAT initiated the labor dispute on March 21, 2022, and after a series of meetings convened by then Education Minister Mallam Adam, it resulted in a resolution dated August 17, 2022, which ended in August 2022.
The association lamented that all the issues that led to the strike, including the failure to agree to renegotiate the 2009 FGN/NAAT agreement, remain unresolved by the federal government despite the resolution.
NAAT also sounded the alarm regarding the lack of funds to upgrade laboratories, workshops, and studios in public universities and the outdated facilities.
According to a statement signed by the NAAT president, “It is important to note that the federal government has instituted a ‘no work, no pay’ policy, which NAAT has rejected.
As a result, our members have had to pay half their salaries for five months. Despite efforts to resolve the issue peacefully through dialogue, the federal government has not paid the outstanding salaries, despite promises from government representatives and a presidential decree.
In March 2024, the sister unions were paid four months’ unpaid salaries, but NAAT members were not compensated.”
