The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has declared a trade dispute against the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC), accusing the two bodies of unjust and discriminatory distribution of the N50 billion recently earmarked for the payment of Earned Allowances (EA) in federal universities.
The development followed an emergency virtual meeting of NAAT’s National Executive Council (NEC) held on Wednesday, May 21, where members of the union vehemently condemned what they described as an “unfair and unjust” sharing formula. According to the union, the Federal Ministry of Education and the NUC allocated a staggering 80 per cent of the fund exclusively to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), while NAAT and two other university-based unions: NASU and SSANU were left to share a meagre 20 percent.
NAAT, a vital player in Nigeria’s higher education landscape, particularly in the sphere of practical learning and research, expressed outrage at the lopsided disbursement.
In a statement signed by its President, Comrade (Hon.) Ibeji Nwokoma, the association, decried what it described as a systematic attempt to relegate Academic Technologists to the background. The union argued that its members play an indispensable role in sustaining the core mandate of universities through their work in laboratories, workshops, studios, and research farms.
Describing the decision by the ministry as reminiscent of the apartheid era, NAAT stated that public officials ought to promote equity and cohesion rather than fanning the flames of disunity and disenchantment in the university system. The union emphasised that without the vital input of technologists, efforts by universities to produce employable, skilled graduates, especially under the Federal Government’s renewed emphasis on practical education—would be severely undermined.
Citing the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Federal Government on August 17, 2022, NAAT insisted that the agreed N50bn for Earned Allowances was meant for all four university-based unions. The association is therefore demanding the immediate release of a separate N50bn specifically for its members, in line with the provisions of that MoU, which was instrumental in ending the union’s 2022 industrial action.
NAAT also raised concerns over the unpaid arrears of Occupational Hazard Allowance for seven months, underscoring the growing frustration among its members. The union warned that continued disregard for its legitimate demands could further jeopardise industrial harmony in the nation’s ivory towers.
Appealing to all fair-minded Nigerians and advocates of justice, the union called for immediate intervention to reverse the “biased and discriminatory” allocation and uphold the principles of fairness, equity, and justice within the education sector.
The statement in part reads: “NAAT outrightly rejects the unfair and unjust sharing formular adopted by the Federal Ministry of Education and National Universities Commission (NUC) of 80% to members of ASUU and 20% to members of NAAT, NASU and SSANU. NAAT as a critical stakeholder in the University Education sub-sector, could not understand the wisdom and parameters employed to arrive at such obnoxious decision where a public officer entrusted with the welfare of staff under
“The practice where Public Officers promote uneven and lopsided allocation of funds meant for payment of Earned Allowances to all categories of University Staff leaves much to be desired. NAAT condemns such actions in its entirety and calls for its immediate reversal in the interest of industrial peace and harmonious working relationship between various stakeholders in the system.
“Therefore, the plan to relegate Academic Technologists would also cripple the backbone of teaching, research and innovations in our Universities and attendant consequences of producing unemployable graduates due to lack of needed skills that they could have acquired in the Laboratories, workshops, farms and studios under the guidance and mentorship of Academic Technologists thereby defeating the recently introduced Federal Government policy of engaging students in more practical and less theory.
“Furthermore, NAAT demands for an immediate commencement of processes by the FME for the release of a separate N50bn to take care of Earned Allowances of NAAT members as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 17th August, 2022 signed between Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and NAAT since the FME decided to allocate the recently released funds to ASUU members. The action of the Honourable Minister of Education and the Executive Secretary of NUC reminds one of the era of apartheid where discrimination was the order of the day.
“It is pertinent to note that NAAT and three other University Based Unions embarked on an indefinite strike action in the year 2022 to press home their demands. NAAT suspended the strike action only after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) containing several terms of settlement including the release of 50bn for payment of Earned Allowance to members of all the four Unions. Specifically, item 7 of the resolution of 17th August, 2022 clearly stated that the Fifty Billion Naira is for the payment of Earned Allowances (EA) and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA). However, the same Ministry allocates 80% to only one Union to the detriment of three others.”
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