The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has put the government on notice that it will begin a three-day warning strike tomorrow over the non-payment of four months withheld salaries as directed by President Bola Tinubu. The President had, in October 2023, directed that the university workers who embarked on a prolonged strike in 2022 over the inability of the then government to address their concerns be paid the withheld salaries. The administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari had invoked the “no work, no pay,” policy, which meant that the university workers would not Kaduna: Fear, tension as bandits kidnap 87, loot shops in fresh attack Baba Negedu KADUNA Barely 48 hours after attacking Dogon Noma Ungwan Community and abducting 14 residents, bandits have again attacked Kajuru-Station community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, kidnapping at least 87 persons. The bandits were also said to have attacked and looted nearby shops and made away with goods. The attack took place on Sunday at about 10 pm when many of the residents were already asleep and others about going to bed. The Kaduna State Police Command spokesman, be paid salaries within the period they were on strike. While members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have been paid for the four months as directed by the president, members of NAAT are yet to be paid. In a statement yesterday to announce the three-day warning strike, signed by its President, Ibeji Nwokoma, NAAT explained that the decision to embark on the warning strike was sanctioned at the union’s National Executive Council emergency virtual meeting. The statement read, “We are constrained to notify you of the decisions of the National Executive Council of NAAT at the end of its emergency virtual meeting held on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. It was resolved that a three-day warning strike and a nationwide protest on the first day commencing from Wednesday, March 20 to Friday, March 22, 2024, be embarked upon. “This is to enable the union to press home its demand for the payment of withheld salaries of members of NAAT as approved by the Presidency. “This became necessary due to the unfortunate circumstances leading to the payment of four months withheld salaries of members of a sister union and the exclusion of members of NAAT. “The minister may wish to note that, in spite of his pronouncement and assurances at the high-level stakeholders meeting held at the Idris Abdulkadir Auditorium, NUC Secretariat on Thursday, January 11, 2024 that the payment of the withheld salaries will be across board and the unions letter of appeal for equity, fairness and justice dated February 16, 2024 for which the office of the minister did not deem it necessary to either respond or acknowledge and till date the government has failed to fulfil its promises.” Nwokoma, therefore, called on the Federal Government to do the needful or be held responsible for any disruption of academic activities in universities.
Withheld Salaries: NAAT begins 3-day warning strike
