Earned allowances: UI NAAT talks tough

The leadership and members of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), University of Ibadan branch have condemned in strong terms the modalities the management of the institution is adopting in the payment of the earned allowances to the tune of N22.1 billion released by the Federal Government for the non-teaching staff of federal universities.

The association as a result of the development last Friday held a combined congress of the technologists (NAAT), clinic and laboratory technicians (members of SSANU and NASU) congress in form of a peaceful protest to show its grievances over the expected 25 percent of the released amount by the Federal Government.

The congress which was held in front of the Trenchad Hall of the institution had in attendance, members of staff from the clinics, laboratories, workshops and studios, carrying different placards with short inscriptions such as, ‘illegal payment is corruption,’ ‘pay the deserving staff,’ ‘University of Ibadan, it is criminal to buy peace with corruption, ‘pay according to agreement in the university, among others.

Tracing the history of the past disbursement and payments from 2013 to 2020 by the aggrieved members of the association at the congress, it showed that the previous payments of the allowances had proven not to have followed the contents of the UI unions’ agreements but rather the earned allowances money was used to ‘buy peace’ by the management not minding sacrificing justice.

Expressing their displeasure on the diversion of the earned allowances, especially on occupational hazards allowance which is one of the major components of the earned allowances, the congress noted that it had been replaced with another independently existing item of earned allowances, which was contrary to the 2019 union’s agreement.

“Occupation Hazards Allowance is N30,000 and N15,000 per month for senior members of staff respectively and payable only to staff that are routinely exposed to hazards in the laboratory, workshops, studio and clinics. However, Hazard allowance is payable to all staff at the existing rate of 333 per month.

“Other allowances that have been paid since 2013 to 2020 should be accurately and duly paid in this disbursement, These allowances are; responsibility, laboratory students/technologist staff ratio supplementation, Students Work Experience Programme (SWEP), field trips and call duty,” the congress pointed out.

In his remarks, the chairman of NAAT, Mr Paul Yahaya noted that the association could no longer fold its arms watching the continuous and unfair treatment meted out on the deserving members of staff of the university who are daily exposed to hazards while discharging their duties.

He hinted that some of the members of NAAT had lost their potency, ability to give birth, sight and so forth as a result of direct contact with dangerous and harmful chemicals such as ethidium bromide, sulphuric acid, hydrogen sulphide, acetic acid, pyridine, microscope, among others.

In his comment, the secretary of the association, Mr Rauf Kolawole Muideen, who claimed to have attended the meeting where the last earned allowance was shared by the management of the institution, said he refused to append his signature on some documents due to injustice embedded in the sharing formula.

“An injustice to one is an injustice to all. This congress is resolute, and it shall continue in this tempo until justice is done by the management of the University of Ibadan.” he said.

Adjourning the congress, Mr Olufemi Akintoye, a vibrant member of NAAT the therefore moved a motion and seconded by Mr Emmanuel Nnodium that “the current disbursement to the University of Ibadan be paid only to the deserving staff in accordance with the dictate of different union agreements bearing in mind that the contentious occupational hazards allowance had been implemented for 75 per cent of deserving members of staff.”

“Legal means should be invoked or committed to interpret the 2019 FGN/NAAT Agreement for proper understanding and implementation of components therein,” he said.

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