Varsity Workers Set For Nationwide Protest August 6
The National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, has threatened to commence nationwide protests from August over the three and half months withheld salaries, non implementation of the consequential adjustment for the minimum wage among others.
Recall that NAAT had in June issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over unresolved issues as regards the welfare of members and a conducive environment for academic activities and the ultimatum expired on July 4, without any action from the government.
Consequently, NAAT at its 59th National Executive Council, NEC, meeting at Yobe State University, Damaturu, frowned at the alleged lukewarm attitude of the government towards addressing its demands after extensive deliberations on issues affecting members of the union, the academic environment, and the nation at large.
In a statement issued by the NAAT President, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, the association also said it was open to dialogue with the government before the August 6 deadline.
Among the contentious issues provoking the association to commence the proposed nationwide protests according to Comrade Ibeji include the sharing formula of the recently disbursed N50 billion where it was alleged that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU was awarded 80 percent of the total sum, while the three non teaching unions, NAAT, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU and the Non-Academic Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, were given 20 percent to share among themselves.
The statement said: “The NEC in session frowned at the modalities used by the Federal Government in the sharing formula and disbursement of the ₦50 billion Earned Allowances (EA) and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) arrears.”
The statement said NEC also reviewed the declaration of a trade dispute against the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission, NUC, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, NAU, Awka and the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, which was initiated by the Union on 2nd June 2025, where it issued a 21 day ultimatum to the federal government.
Other unresolved issues include the mainstreaming of allowances for NAAT members, like the field trip, student/technologist staff ratio supplementation, students’ work experience programme, SWEP, and call duty allowances.
Their grievances also include the release of ₦50 billion to settle the outstanding claims of Earned Allowances for NAAT members to address the injustice meted on the Union.
SOURCE: VANGUARD
