The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), has declared that it will initiate a three-day warning strike starting Wednesday because of the non-payment of four months' withheld salaries despite President Bola Tinubu's directive that they be paid.
In October 2023, the President directed that the university workers who had gone on a prolonged strike in 2022 due to the then government's failure to address their concerns, be paid for four months.
Under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the No work, no pay policy was implemented, meaning that university workers would not be paid during strikes.
Despite the president's directive, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities have been paid for the four months, while members of NAAT are still waiting for their payment.
In a statement signed by its president, Ibeji Nwokoma, NAAT announced the three-day warning strike, explaining that the decision was sanctioned at the union’s National Executive Council emergency virtual meeting.
Part of the statement read, “We are constrained to notify you of the decisions of the National Executive Council of NAAT at the end of its emergency virtual meeting held on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. It was resolved that a three-day warning strike and a nationwide protest on the first day commencing from Wednesday, March 20 to Friday, March 22, 2024, be embarked upon.
It is further stated that this is to enable the union to press home its demand for the payment of withheld salaries of NAAT members as approved by the Presidency, which has become necessary due to the unfortunate circumstances leading to the payment of four months withheld salaries of a sister union's members and the exclusion of NAAT members.
Therefore, Nwokoma urged the Federal Government to take necessary action or face accountability for any disruption of academic activities in universities.
