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Federal Government, NAAT Sign Agreement to Prevent Nationwide Strike

Published by Tope Fakinlede on August 5th, 2025.

Federal Government, NAAT Sign Agreement to Prevent Nationwide Strike

In a strategic move to prevent an impending nationwide strike, the Federal Government has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). The agreement was finalized during a reconciliation meeting convened in Abuja by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.

This development comes after NAAT issued a 21-day ultimatum threatening industrial action over unresolved demands. Central to their concerns are the non-mainstreaming of certain allowances, the outstanding disbursement of N50 billion for Earned Allowances, and delays in the renegotiation of the FGN/NAAT 2009 Agreement.

Additional unresolved matters include the full implementation of the consequential adjustment to the national minimum wage, payment of three and a half months’ withheld salaries, release of withheld third-party deductions, and overdue payments spanning seven and eleven months for Occupational Hazard and Responsibility Allowances, respectively.

As part of the resolutions reached, a technical committee was established to address the integration of specific allowances such as Field Trip, SWEP (Student Work Experience Programme), Call Duty, and Student Technologist Staff Ratio Supplementation. This committee, which includes representatives from the Budget Office, Accountant General’s Office, NAAT, NUC, NSIWC, and the Federal Ministry of Education, has been given a two-week deadline to submit its report.

The same committee has also been tasked with looking into the payment of withheld salaries, the release of corresponding third-party deductions, and the outstanding arrears related to Occupational Hazard and Responsibility Allowances. Additionally, it will handle issues surrounding the omission of NAAT members from the implementation of the 2019 ₦30,000 minimum wage and the non-payment of one-year arrears for the 35%/25% salary increment.

On the matter of the ₦50 billion owed in Earned Allowances, the Ministry of Labour was instructed to follow up with the Ministry of Education to explore options for a supplementary payment to NAAT members.

Efforts to conclude the protracted renegotiation of the 2009 agreement were also revisited, with the Ministry of Labour tasked to ensure swift action from the Ministry of Education.

While acknowledging the implementation of the minimum wage adjustment agreed upon by the Joint Public Negotiation Council, the meeting emphasized the urgency of issuing a circular to enable the career progression of Academic Technologists to CONTISS 14 and 15. The Labour Ministry was directed to engage the Office of the Head of Civil Service on this matter.

The meeting also addressed internal union issues, including the Federal Ministry of Labour’s intervention in the leadership dispute at the NAAT branch of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The University’s management was urged to recognize the NEC-approved leadership and remit the seven-month backlog of check-off dues to the union’s national office, with a one-week deadline for a report on progress.

It was agreed that another conciliatory meeting would take place in three weeks to evaluate the implementation status and review the technical committee’s findings.

Those who signed the MoU on behalf of the Federal Government included Mr. Harry Ogugua (NUC), Emmanuel Onung (Federal Ministry of Education), and Falonipe Amos O. (Director, Trade Union Services, Ministry of Labour and Employment). Representing NAAT were Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, the union’s President, and Comrade Abubakar Yusuf, General Secretary.