The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put in place necessary mechanism to monitor state governors, to ensure judicious utilisation of the Paris Club refund recently released to the states.
The association made the call in a communique issued after its 32nd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Calabar. The meeting which was presided over by the NAAT President, Comrade Sani Suleiman deliberated on crucial issues affecting the Union and the Nation at large, such as the Paris Club refund, insecurity, health condition of President Muhammadu Buhari, and shortfall in personnel cost to universities.
The communique, signed by the NAAT General Secretary, Comrade Iyoyo Hamilton, advised that the Federal Government should ensure that the disbursement of the Paris Club loan refund is properly monitor to prevent its mismanagement and diversion by the state governors.
NAAT also frowned at the shortfall in personnel cost currently being experienced by federal and state universities, and therefore urged the Federal Government as a matter of urgency to arrest the situation for sustenance of peace in the university system.
It also expressed displeasure over non-payment of the balance of earned allowances arrears and lack of commitment by the Federal Government to fully implement the 2009 FGN/NAAT Agreement.
“The union therefore demands immediate payment of the arrears and full implementation of the agreement in order to avoid possible industrial disharmony. NAAT equally implores FGN to speed up the Agreement Renegotiation process going on between Unions and the FGN Team,” the communique said.
The association also noted with serious dissatisfaction, the persistent corruption cases within the university system, and therefore appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action in sanctioning any Vice-Chancellor against whom a prima facie case has been established.
It observed with dismay the current economic recession being experienced by the country and urged the government to quickly put in motion all machineries necessary to arrest the situation, in order to bring succour to the suffering masses.
Also, NAAT commended the Federal Government for the efforts so far made in the restoration of peace in troubled regions of the country; but added that more still needs to be done in tackling insecurity in the areas of kidnapping, bloody clashes between herdsmen and farmers as exemplified in the recent killings in Zaki Biam, Benue State.
On the wrangling between the Executive and the National Assembly, the association said the current wrangles, especially in the Senate is unnecessary.
“The National assembly should be more concerned with serious issues confronting the nation such as; the economic recession, insecurity, infrastructural decay and others, rather than wasting tax-payers money on irrelevant issues such as certificate saga, witch-hunting of one another, etc,” it said.
While thanking God for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari from his recent health challenge, NAAT commended the Federal Government for the giant strides made in strengthening the value of our national currency against foreign currencies in recent times.