Academic technologists issue FG 14-day ultimatum

The National Association of Academic Technologists on Monday issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over failed resolutions of longstanding issues between the government and academic technologists.

The union, in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting, which was held on October 4, 2025, at the Federal University, Lafia, bemoaned the failure of the Tunji Alausa-led Ministry of Education to summon meetings and discussions over lingering issues.

The communique signed by the national president of NAAT, Ibeji Nwokoma reads, “NEC reviewed the progress made following the conciliation meeting convened by the Honourable Minister of Labour & Employment on 30th July, 2025, where a Memorandum of Understanding was signed, and the meeting convened by the Honourable Minister of Education on Thursday, 11″ September, 2025, and the unfolding events in the education sector.

“The issues in contention are the non-completion of the FGN/ NAAT 2009 Agreement renegotiation, which seeks to review the existing salaries, allowances and other conditions of service in the Nigerian University system.

In fact, only the inaugural meeting was held between the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed-led renegotiation committee and NAAT on December 10, 2024. It is therefore worrisome to hear that a report has been submitted by the committee to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The Mainstreaming of Earned Allowances into the salaries of Academic Technologists to curb further accumulation of arrears and their attendant consequences.

Non-release of the enabling circular for CONTISS 14 & 15 to enable NAAT members to get to the peak of their careers, and, recently, the delay in payment of monthly salaries, which causes untold hardship on NAAT members, considering the current economic realities.

Consequent upon the above, the Union hereby issue a 14-day ultimatum to the Government to address the demands listed above.

“While the Union remain open to dialogue, failure to address these demands by FGN at the expiration of the ultimatum, the Union will be left with no other option than to declare an industrial action to press home its demands without recourse to the Government.”

Recall that NAAT recently demanded that the mainstreaming of allowances of NAAT members, the release of N50 billion to settle the outstanding claims of Earned Allowances of members of the union to address the injustice meted out to their members in the recently disbursed funds and completion of the renegotiation of the FGN/NAAT 2009 Agreement exercise.

Others are the implementation of the Consequential Adjustment of the New National Minimum Wage, payment of three and a half months withheld salaries and release of third-party deductions of the two months of withheld salaries paid, and payment of seven and 11 months’ arrears of Occupational Hazard and Responsibility Allowances, respectively.