Olu Samuel, Lokoja
The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) of Federal University Lokoja Chapter has embarked on three day warning strike over unpaid four months salaries.
The Chairman of the union, Comrade Jibril Oni Ilepinran of the institution led other members on peaceful demonstration on Wednesday at the Adankolo campus of the institution.
He said that “in year 2022, members of National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the other three based unions at the Federal Universities namely Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) embarked on nationwide strike demanding for better working conditions.
The then Administration under President Muhammadu Buhari instead of given the unions a listening ear, invoked ‘no work on pay’ policy which lead to salaries of Universities Staff been withheld for months.
He mentioned that in 2023 the present President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu state publicly a waiver on the policy of ‘no work no pay and directed that four months withheld salaries should be paid across board to Federal University workers.
“To our own shock, only one union was paid leaving the other three namely NAAT, NASU and SSANU not attended to.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the NAAT has no other option after the leadership of the union had written letter of appeal for equity, fairness and justice to Minister of Labour and other stakeholders dated 16th February, 2024 which none of them either responded or acknowledge till date resolved at the end of its emergency virtual meeting held on Wednesday 13th March, 2024 to embark on a 3-day warning strike and nationwide protest on the first day commencing today Wednesday 20 to Friday 22nd March, 2024.
“This is to enable the union to press home its demand for the payment of withheld salaries of members of NAAT as approved by the presidency. It is important to note that all segments of the Universities complement one another to achieve the vision and mission of establishing Universities.
“The union is calling on the Federal
Government to do the needful or be held responsible for any distraction of academic activities in our universities as we embark on nationwide strike,” he said.