By Joan Nwagwu
The National Association of Academic Technologists, (NAAT) has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum over non- payments of five months withheld salaries.
Mr Ibeji Nwokoma, President of NAAT said this in a letter addressed to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha in Abuja.
The letter was titled, “Notice of 21-day ultimatum to embark on an industrial action,”.
Nwokoma said that the ultimatum was part of the resolution reached in its 56th National Executive Council( NEC), meeting held in Taraba state.
According to him, arising from the 56th NEC meeting, it is important to note that the Federal Government invoked the “No-work-No-pay” policy, which NAAT rejected as all due processes as contained in Trade Union Act were followed.
“This led to our members being owed five and a half months salary. Regardless of all the efforts to resolve the issues peacefully through dialogue.
“The federal government has not paid the withheld salaries despite promises made by government representatives and a presidential directive.
“In view of the foregoing, the NEC unanimously resolved to issue a three-week ultimatum to the federal government to resolve the demand.
” That is failure to do so, the Union will have no option than to embark on an industrial action without further notice, he said.
He however recalled that in March 2024, that a sister union was paid four months’ arrears of the withheld salary while NAAT members were not paid.
He said this prompted the union to embark on a three day warning strike/ protest to demand the payment of the five and half months’ salaries of NAAT members.
He noted that the three-day warning strike was suspended only after an appeal and promise to pursue the issue within short period by the Honourable Ministers of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman and that of State, Dr. Yusuf Sununu.
“It is now September 2024, NAAT members have not been paid the withheld salary even after a pronouncement made by the Honourable Minister of State, Labour and Employment that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the payment of withheld salaries to all university-based unions in full.
“NAAT calls on all well-meaning Nigerians, Traditional rulers, Religious leaders, Civil societies and student leadership to prevail on Federal Government on the above demands’,’he said.