The National Association of Academic Technologists has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to meet its demands, including the completion of the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement.
NAAT said the ultimatum, which began on October 5, followed delays in reviewing salaries, allowances, and other conditions of service for its members in the university system.
In a statement signed by its President, Ibeji Nwokoma, on Monday, the union said the decision came after its 60th National Executive Council meeting held at the Federal University, Lafia, over the weekend.
According to the statement, the association reviewed the outcome of earlier meetings with the Minister of Labour and Employment on July 30 and the Minister of Education on September 11. Nwokoma said the government had failed to act on agreements reached during those sessions.
He said, “The issues in contention include the non-completion of the FGN/NAAT 2009 Agreement renegotiation, which seeks to review the existing salaries, allowances, and other conditions of service in Nigerian universities. It is worrisome that only an inaugural meeting was held with the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed-led renegotiation committee on December 10, 2024, yet a report has already been submitted to the Federal Government.”
The union also listed other pending issues, including the mainstreaming of earned allowances into salaries, the non-release of the enabling circular for CONTISS 14 and 15, and recent delays in salary payments, which it said had caused severe hardship for members.
Nwokoma added, “NAAT rejects the distortions and disparities in salary structures among university staff. The government must avoid any action that could cause another crisis in the university system.”
He warned that the association would embark on industrial action if the government failed to meet its demands at the end of the two-week deadline.
“While the union remains open to dialogue, failure to address these issues by the expiration of the ultimatum will leave us with no choice but to declare an industrial action,” the statement added.
