The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) at the Federal University Lokoja has voiced their discontent over the federal government’s failure to disburse four months’ worth of salary arrears. This protest comes following the implementation of the “no work no pay” policy during the 2022 industrial action under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had granted a waiver in 2023 and ordered the payment of the withheld salaries.
Expressing their frustration in Lokoja on Wednesday, NAAT announced the commencement of a 3-day warning strike to protest the non-payment of these salary arrears. Chairman of the NAAT FUL chapter, Comrade Jibril Oni Ilepinran, highlighted that while four unions, including NAAT, were affected by the salary arrears, only one union received payment, leaving the others neglected.
Ilepinran emphasized the unfairness of this situation and stated that attempts to engage relevant authorities, including those in the Presidency, had been futile. As a result, the decision to embark on the warning strike was made by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the association.
He further elaborated on the events leading up to the strike, citing President Tinubu’s directive in 2023 for the payment of the withheld salaries to all federal university workers. However, only one union was attended to, leaving NAAT, NASU, and SSANU unaddressed.
The 3-day warning strike, according to Ilepinran, aims to pressure the government into fulfilling its commitment to pay the withheld salaries of NAAT members as approved by the presidency. He stressed the importance of all university segments working together and urged the Federal Government to take action to prevent any disruption to academic activities due to potential nationwide strikes.
The strike serves as a clear message from NAAT, highlighting the urgency of addressing the grievances of academic technologists and ensuring fairness in salary disbursements across all university unions.
