The National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, has announced that it will commence a three-day warning strike on Wednesday due to the non-payment of four months of withheld salaries, as instructed by President Bola Tinubu.
In October 2023, the President directed that university workers who went on a long strike in 2022, due to the previous government's failure to address their concerns, should be paid four months' worth of salaries.
During the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the “No work, no pay” policy was enforced, which meant that the university workers would not receive salaries for the duration of their strike.
While members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities have been paid for the four months as directed by the president, members of NAAT are yet to receive their salaries.
NAAT, in a statement signed by its president, Ibeji Nwokoma, explained that the decision to begin the three-day warning strike was approved at the union’s National Executive Council emergency virtual meeting.
According to the statement, the National Executive Council of NAAT concluded that a three-day warning strike and a nationwide protest will be carried out from Wednesday, March 20 to Friday, March 22, 2024, in order to demand the payment of withheld salaries for NAAT members as approved by the Presidency.
The statement mentioned, “This is in order to emphasize the union's demand for the payment of withheld salaries of NAAT members, as authorized by the Presidency.
“This became necessary due to the regrettable circumstances surrounding the payment of four months withheld salaries of members of a sister union and the exclusion of members of ΝΑΛΤ.
“Despite the minister's assurances at the high-level stakeholders meeting and the union's appeal for fairness and justice, the government has not fulfilled its promises.
Nwokoma urged the Federal Government to take action to prevent any disruption of academic activities in universities, or else take responsibility for the consequences.
