The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has rejected the current sharing formula adopted by the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) for disbursing the recently released N50 billion earned allowances.
In a statement signed by its president, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, NAAT condemned the allocation of 80 per cent of the funds to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), leaving only 20 per cent for the three other university-based unions; NAAT, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
The statement followed an emergency virtual meeting of NAAT’s National Executive Council (NEC) held yesterday.
According to NAAT, the formula is unfair, unjust, and lopsided, and it disregards the critical role academic technologists play in the university system, particularly in driving practical teaching, research, and innovation.
NAAT expressed dismay over what it described as discriminatory and divisive practices by public officers who, instead of promoting equity and industrial harmony, endorse allocations that create tension and marginalisation within the academic community.
“The university system is built on the contributions of several stakeholders, “relegating the role of academic technologists undermines the practical training of students and contradicts the federal government’s policy of prioritising practical over theoretical learning,” the statement read.
The union also called for the immediate reversal of the current sharing arrangement and demanded the release of a separate N50 billion, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the federal government on August 17, 2022.
NAAT stressed that the MoU included specific provisions for equal treatment of all university-based unions regarding earned allowances.
Drawing parallels with apartheid-era discrimination, NAAT criticised the decision-makers for perpetuating inequality within the university system and warned that the move could trigger further industrial unrest.
In response to the unresolved issues, NAAT has declared a trade dispute with the Federal Ministry of Education and the NUC, citing the unjust sharing of earned allowances and the non-payment of seven months’ arrears of occupational hazard allowance, among other grievances.
The statement reads in parts, “The NEC of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) outrightly rejects the unfair and unjust sharing formular adopted by the Federal Ministry of Education and National Universities Commission (NUC) of 80 percent to members of ASUU and 20 percent to members of NAAT, NASU and SSANU.
NAAT condemns such actions in their entirety and calls for their immediate reversal in the interest of industrial peace and harmonious working relationships between various stakeholders in the system. “
