National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), University of Calabar (UniCal) Chapter during their Emergency Congress at the Physics Laboratory of the University, Monday
Academic Technologists commence two-week strike at Calabar varsity
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), University of Calabar (UniCal) Chapter has commenced a two-week industrial action.
Comrade Alexander Oko, the Branch Chairman and Zonal Coordinator, South South of NAAT disclosed this after its Emergency Congress at the Physics Laboratory of the University of Calabar.
He said the strike is expedient because the Federal Government has failed to meet a number of their demands.
He listed the demands to include, “non-full implementation of the 2009 FGN/NAAT Agreement, delay in renegotiation of FGN/NAAT Agreement, non-payment of arrears of National Minimum wage.
“The refusal to release the enabling circular for the implementation of CONTISS 14 & 15 for academic Technologists as contained in the MOU of 2017, 2020 and 2021.
“Non payment of Earned Allowances (EA) for members specifically as agreed in the MOU of 2021 that subsequent release of EA shall be union based and subsequent sharing shall be based in template generated from signed agreement each union and not number of persons in each union as personnel cost”, he listed.
Others he said include the non release of adequate laboratories/workshop/studios in Nigerian universities.
He lamented that twelve years after signing agreements with NAAT, many components of the agreement are either partially or not implemented.
The branch chairman also faulted the government on the non conclusion of ongoing renegotiation of FGN/NAAT 2009 agreement that has been ongoing for more than two years.
He said this smacks of insensitivity and provocation on the part of government as it has concluded negotiations with a sister union.
He added that if government fails to address its demands, NAAT may be compelled to embark on an industrial action which shall be total and indefinite.
