NAAT rejects FG’s TISSF loan scheme, demands settlement of salary arrears

The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has strongly rejected the Federal Government’s newly announced Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), describing it as a “distraction” and “a loan that will perpetually enslave” its members.

In a statement signed by NAAT President, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, the union said its members do not need the government’s TISSF loan scheme, which is reportedly funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and TETFund.

“After carefully perusing the document on the TISSF loan, NAAT views it as a distraction and therefore rejects it. We wish to make it categorically clear that our members do not need a loan that will perpetually enslave them, as it amounts to taking their salaries in advance,” the statement read.

According to NAAT, its members already have cooperative societies to meet their short-term financial needs. Instead of offering loans, the association is demanding the immediate settlement of all legitimate outstanding arrears owed to its members.

The union listed its demands to include: Payment of three and a half months of withheld salaries. Payment of seven months’ arrears of Occupational Hazard Allowance (OHA). Release of third-party deductions for the two months of withheld salaries that were eventually paid.

Payment of eleven months’ arrears of the Responsibility Allowance (RA). Payment of 12-month arrears of the 25% & 35% salary increase. Payment of four months’ arrears of wage award. Settlement of arrears of the N30,000 minimum wage for omitted NAAT members since 2019. Release of supplementary funds to pay outstanding claims of earned allowances.

“Rather than offering loans, NAAT demands the payment of all outstanding arrears legitimately earned by her members,” Nwokoma stated.

The NAAT leader also criticised the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, over the purported revocation of 7,000 hectares of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja) land.

“NAAT strongly condemns the unilateral and arbitrary action of the Minister, as it violates the Laws governing the University which require amendment by the National Assembly for the action to be legally valid,” the union said, stressing that the land is “not just an asset that can be disposed of at will, but a national treasure” critical for future academic expansion.

The union warned that cutting the university’s land from 11,000 hectares to just 4,000 hectares would “cause major distortions” to its masterplan, affecting research centres, new academic programmes, and student accommodation.

NAAT, therefore, called on the Federal Government to redirect the TISSF funds towards settling outstanding claims of academic technologists and urged the National Assembly committees on tertiary education and TETFund to intervene and reverse the land revocation in the interest of national development.

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