Academic Technologists Reject FG’s Conditional Payment of Withheld Salaries

NAAT, in a statement signed by its President, Ideji Nwokoma, and General Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, on Sunday, denounced the FG's conditions, viewing them as draconian and a violation of workers' fundamental human rights to freedom of expression and association guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

Academic Technologists Reject FG’s Conditional Payment of Withheld Salaries

The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has rejected the conditions set by the Federal Government for the payment of withheld salaries of academic and non-academic staff members of tertiary institutions in the country.

In response to the Memorandum Of Understanding signed with Organised Labour, President Bola Tinubu granted a partial waiver for the payment of four out of the eight months' salaries seized by the government under its "No Work, No Pay" policy. However, the government stated that the waiver was subject to the development of a document of understanding by the Federal Ministries of Education and Labour and Employment before payment of the withheld salaries could be effected.

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NAAT, in a statement signed by its President, Ideji Nwokoma, and General Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, on Sunday, denounced the FG's conditions, viewing them as draconian and a violation of workers' fundamental human rights to freedom of expression and association guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

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The union urged President Tinubu to rescind the decision and approve the unconditional payment of the withheld salaries immediately. NAAT emphasized that the work loss during the strike had been compensated through extra work hours, and graduation ceremonies had taken place.NAAT called on well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and ensure the full payment of the withheld salaries for sustainable industrial harmony.