The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has joined the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) to reject the sharing formula adopted by the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the N50 billion earned allowance to university-based unions.
NAAT said 80 per cent of the funds was allocated to ASUU members, leaving NAAT, SSANU and NASU members with 20 per cent, reports The Nation.
A statement by its President, Ibeji Nwokoma, after an emergency virtual meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union, reads: “The practice where public officers promote uneven and lopsided allocation of funds meant for payment of Earned Allowances to all categories of university staff leaves much to be desired. NAAT condemns such actions in its entirety and calls for its immediate reversal in the interest of industrial peace and harmonious working relationship between various stakeholders in the system.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the University system is anchored on contributions by several stakeholders. The role of Academic Technologists is in the area of promoting teaching and research which is the core mandate of every University.
“Therefore, the plan to relegate Academic Technologists would also cripple the backbone of teaching, research and innovations in our Universities and attendant consequences of producing unemployable graduates due to lack of needed skills that they could have acquired in the Laboratories, workshops, farms and studios under the guidance and mentorship of academic technologists thereby defeating the recently introduced Federal Government policy of engaging students in more practical and less theory.
“Furthermore, NAAT demands for an immediate commencement of processes by the FME for the release of a separate N50bn to take care of Earned Allowances of NAAT members as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 17th August, 2022 signed between Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and NAAT since the FME decided to allocate the recently released funds to ASUU members. The action of the Honourable Minister of Education and the Executive Secretary of NUC reminds one of the era of apartheid where discrimination was the order of the day.
“It is pertinent to note that NAAT and three other University Based Unions embarked on an indefinite strike action in the year 2022 to press home their demands. NAAT suspended the strike action only after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) containing several terms of settlement including the release of 50bn for payment of Earned Allowance to members of all the four Unions. Specifically, item 7 of the resolution of 17th August, 2022 clearly stated that the Fifty Billion Naira is for the payment of Earned Allowances (EA) and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA). However, the same Ministry allocates 80% to only one Union to the detriment of three others.
“NAAT demands for fairness, equity, justice and fair play for all and calls on well-meaning Nigerians that reject injustice in all its ramifications under whatever guise to rise up and call for immediate reversal of this sharing arrangement that clearly favours one over three others.
“We are the Academic Technologists and we will continue to demand for our rights and the promotion of a fair and just University system.”
The union added that it has declared a trade dispute with the Federal Ministry of Education and National Universities Commission on issues bordering on welfare of its members on the sharing formular of the recently released N50 billion earmarked for payment of Earned Allowances and the payment of seven (7) month arrears of Occupational Hazard Allowance and others.
