The National President of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, has urged the Federal Government to pay the outstanding salaries of members.
Speaking at the association’s 57th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Ibadan on Wednesday, Nwokoma said the Federal Government has paid part of the money but it should pay the remaining three and a half salaries.
He said, “Our position at the NEC meeting is that the Federal Government should pay the remaining three and a half months because we are not ready to embark on any strike, so we are appealing to the Federal Government.”
Nwokoma also urged the Federal Government to give education the necessary allocation in next year’s budget, stating that the United Nations Education and Socio-Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) stipulates that a nation should allocate 26 per cent of its total budget to the education sector.
“As a body, we are appealing to the Federal Government to give education the UNESCO recommendation rather than 10 per cent to improve education in the country.
In his remarks, NAAT Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter, Yahaya Paul, commended the current leadership of the association, led by Comrade Nwokoma, for the dynamism introduced into unionism and, most especially, the implementation of occupational hazard allowance (OHA) to academic technologists/scientists nationwide.
Yahaya said NAAT is a noble union and the most peaceful trade union on campus all over the country.
Paul acknowledged the level of understanding and transparency displayed by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, and the entire management team during the just-concluded election of representatives to the council, saying the recent conversion of junior personnel with additional qualifications in their laboratories to laboratory technologists and scientists is highly commendable and highly appreciated.
He pledged to continue to extend the hands of fellowship to the administration of the university, just as he commended the vice chancellor for securing the confidence of the unions and the entire workforce in the university in the last three years.
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