Withheld Salaries Prompt NAAT Warning Strike at Michael Okpara University
Members of NAAT at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, commence a warning strike due to non-payment of over five months' salaries, citing fatalities among members and unequal treatment.
Mary Nwaeze 
In a response to the prolonged non-payment of salaries, members of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), have commenced a three-day warning strike. This action aligns with the directive issued by the Ibeji Nwokoma-led National Executive Council of the union.
The genesis of this crisis traces back to October 2023 when President Bola Tinubu directed the payment of withheld salaries to university workers, including NAAT members, who had engaged in a prolonged strike in 2022. However, despite this directive, NAAT members are still awaiting payment for over five months of withheld salaries.
Chairman of NAAT MOUAU, Ifeanyi Kenneth Nwaji, highlighted the dire consequences of this salary delay, noting that some members have tragically succumbed to hunger and illness. Nwaji emphasized the Federal Government's agreement, prior to the suspension of the ASUU strike, that no worker would face victimization. However, this commitment has seemingly been breached.
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The striking workers staged a protest from the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology through the university boulevard to the Administration Building and ultimately to the MOUAU gate, demanding intervention from President Tinubu. They underscored the urgency of the situation, pointing out that economic crises compounded by withheld salaries have led to fatalities among their ranks.
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Should their grievances remain unaddressed after the warning strike, NAAT members have vowed to escalate their protest with a further seven-day warning strike, potentially culminating in an indefinite strike. They expressed frustration at the unequal treatment, noting that while sister union members received payments for four months of withheld salaries, NAAT members were excluded.
In light of these developments, there are growing concerns that an indefinite strike by NAAT could disrupt Nigeria's academic system once again. The association implores authorities to heed their demands to avert further escalation of the crisis.
This warning strike underscores the urgent need for resolution to prevent further harm to university workers and disruption to academic activities at MOUAU.
