Non implementation of agreement causes varsities strikes – NAAT

Federal Government’s insensitivity to plight of university workers and lecturers is the main cause of instability in the University System, National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has said.  This was contained in a communique at the end of the Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Zaria, Kaduna State.  NAAT  frowned at what it described as […]

Federal Government’s insensitivity to plight of university workers and lecturers is the main cause of instability in the University System, National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has said. 

This was contained in a communique at the end of the Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Zaria, Kaduna State.  NAAT  frowned at what it described as government’s attitude of not honouring agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) it signs with labour unions.  

According to the communique signed by NAAT President, Comrade Sani Suleiman and General Secretary, comrade Hamilton Iyoyo, the union accused the  government  of using  “agreement  signing” as a convenient tool to end workers strike action, only to renegeon the deal dater on.   

It therefore urged the Federal Government to release the N8 billion agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for payment of Earned Allowances which it signed with the university based unions which led to the suspension of its five weeks strike.  

The communique reads further, “A case in point is the recent MOU which FGN signed with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) Unions of NAAT, NASU and SSANU that led to suspension of the strike action embarked upon by the unions on 15th March, 2018. We are well over the five (5) weeks agreed upon in the MOU which was signed on 8/03/2018, and nothing has come out from government by way of implementation on all the issues. This insensitivity has remained the primary cause of instability in the University System.  

“NAAT hereby advises FGN to always honour agreements and ensure effective communication to forestall the cycles of strike action. In particular, government is hereby urged to release the N8 billion agreed in the said MOU for payment of Earned Allowances, because the unions are already restive over the delay – and may resume the suspended strike action at any moment.” 

The union said the decay in the education sector as evident in the lack of quality graduates from the various levels of educational institutions is due to poor funding by government.