The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) says it will resist any attempt by the Federal Government to cause further disparities in the salaries of workers in the university system.
NAAT President, Ibeji Nwokoma, said this when addressing newsmen in Abuja.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the non-teaching staff unions in the universities also last week threatened to resist any form of disparity in the salaries of workers in the universities.
Recall that the JAC of the non-teaching staff in the Nigerian universities had alleged that there was a disparity in salaries of workers in the Briggs-led committee’s report submitted to the Federal Government for approval.
The committee was set up in March by the Federal Government to oversee the negotiations with the four university-based unions and submitted its report over a month ago.
According to Nwokoma, the leadership of the union has restrained itself from rushing to conclusions on the news that has gone viral on social media concerning the allocation of percentage salary increases to unions.
“This clearly is informed by the fact that as a responsible union, we found the news to be faked, and as stated earlier, it negates all known laws of collective bargaining.
“However, if the axiom that behind every smoke, there is a fire is true, we wish to clearly state the position of our union.
“NAAT will resist any attempt under any guise to introduce disparity in salaries in the universities.
“As that will have its ripple effects by solving a problem and creating multiple hydra-headed additional problems of restiveness, resistance and deep-rooted further struggles, ’’he said.
He, therefore, called on the Nimi Briggs committee to reconvene and conclude the re-negotiation process with the union.
He also said the committee should further adopt a more robust approach to the re-negotiation.
He added that the committee had been slow and looked spineless in its ability to take decisions on behalf of the government.
Nwokoma, therefore, said that the government’s decision to enforce the “no work, no pay rule’’ on the university workers was unlawful.
“It is also important to remind government and the general public that the strike action embarked upon by NAAT is legitimate, having complied with all laid down procedures and in line with ILO Convention 87.
“Therefore, the stoppage of the payment of our salaries and allowances is unlawful, draconian and contravenes the International best Labour Practices, ‘’he said.
NAAT had been on strike over the alleged failure of the government to keep to an agreement entered with the union.
Their demands include implementation of the 2009 FGN/NAAT Agreement, the release of the enabling circular for the implementation of CONTISS 14 & 15 for Academic Technologists and payment of the arrears of Earned Allowances, among others.
