The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), University of Ibadan (UI) branch, has appealed to the management of the institution to quicken the promotion of its members which has been approved since 2009.
Speaking at the press briefing on Tuesday at the Department of Agriculture, the NAAT chairman, Comrade Yahaya Paul, said members are due for promotion, as he called on the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Kayode Adebowale, to do the needful.
He said NAAT is one of four (4) recognized staff Trade Unions in the Nigerian Universities. It was registered in 2009, memberships are drawn from diverse Scientific and Technological disciplines like Science Laboratory Scientists/Technologists, Medical Laboratory Scientists/Technologists, Agricultural Technologists, Animal Health Technologists, Radiologists, Optometrists, Engineering Technologists that work in academic departments and units.
According to Yahaya, between 2009 to 2021, three branch executives in UI struggled for the actualisation of the implementation of career elongation without much success.
“In 2009, the union went into an agreement with the Federal Government of Nigeria in the now famous FGN/NAAT 2009 Agreement. The Agreement dwelled on the modalities for improving the Nigerian universities in terms of facilities, infrastructures and staff welfare. One of the conditions for improving the welfare of NAAT members inter alia the University Academic Technologists, among several others, is the Elongation of Career Structure. The members of the union that hitherto before the 2009 Agreement terminated at Level 13 was negotiated and graciously approved by the Federal Government to elongate to Level 15.
“The schedule of duties for the newly elongated officers at Levels 14 and 15 were clearly and unambiguously stated in the agreement. Level 14 is captioned Senior Chief Technologist while Level 15 is Principal Chief Technologist. The individual University Governing Council was expected to consider, discuss and approve for eventual implementation.
“Several other universities through their Governing Councils, subsequently approved the career elongation for members of NAAT but the reverse is the case of the NAAT UI branch.
“The union has been pushed to the wall and, therefore, must react first by telling our story of anguish to those beyond the walls of the gown. We have refused to continue to suffer in silence, sitting and pretending that all is well with us within the walls of the Ivory Tower. We are being maligned, prejudiced against and suffering injustice, maybe as a result of our peaceful disposition and deep-thinking approaches to most of our issues.
“As a union, we are calling on the university management to do the needful and respect the decisions reached at the meeting held on October 18,” he said.
He added that in 2020 after members of the union had stagnated for 15 years on Level 13, the John Odigie-Oyegun-led University of Ibadan Governing Council constituted a committee on the review of the scheme of service in the university, whereby NAAT was called to make the presentation.
“NAAT executive came on board in November 2022 and all effort to meet with the VC has proven abortive. The management has failed to meet us as a union and to understand with us what has been our agitation and the areas we have in been pain,” he added.
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