NAAT demands release of N495b Needs Assessment intervention fund owes varsities

The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has urged the federal government to immediately release the N495billion Needs Assessment Intervention Fund to the universities. This was contained in a communiqué issued after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. The association said the non-release of the second tranche […]

The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has urged the federal government to immediately release the N495billion Needs Assessment Intervention Fund to the universities.
This was contained in a communiqué issued after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
The association said the non-release of the second tranche of the fund is greatly affecting the set goals of the project and therefore called on the federal government to release the fund without further delay.
The communiqué, signed by the General Secretary of NAAT, Comrade Iyoyo Hamilton said it observed with dismay the shortfall in personnel and overhead costs to the universities and other institutions of higher learning in recent months.
This, according to Hamilton, has forced the institution to go extra-mile to augment the deficit being experienced in the payment of salaries.
“NAAT demands that the deductions should be stopped and payment of outstanding arrears made so as to cushion the effect of the harsh economy currently being experienced,” he said.
Comrade Hamilton also called for the full implementation of the 2009 Federal Government/NAAT agreement, adding that the union considers it unacceptable that seven years after the federal government freely entered into this agreement, the agreement is yet to be fully implemented.
NAAT, according to him, demands that the agreement be fully and uniformly implemented by the government as well as expedite action in the renegotiation processes.
The association commended the bold step taken by the federal government in dissolving Governing Councils of Federal Universities even as it advised the government to dissolve councils of the remaining universities, and reconstitute them with industrialists and credible personalities who are conversant with the University System.
Comrade Hamilton said the union believes that such calibre of persons would be able to finding a lasting solution to the financial problems of the universities.