Withheld Salaries: NAAT to begin Nationwide protest August 6

The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has announced plans to begin a nationwide protest on August 6, 2025, in response to the non-payment of three and a half months’ withheld salaries and other unresolved issues affecting the welfare of non-teaching university staff across Nigeria.

The decision to protest was made public on Monday following NAAT’s 59th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

According to the union’s leadership, the protest will be followed by a nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to address the pending demands.

The association is also agitating over the government’s refusal to implement the consequential adjustment of the new national minimum wage, among several other outstanding matters.

Earlier in June, NAAT issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding urgent action on a number of concerns relating to members’ welfare and the academic working environment. However, the ultimatum expired on July 4 without any response or meaningful engagement from the government.

Speaking to journalists after the NEC meeting, NAAT President Ibeji Nwokoma expressed disappointment over what he described as the government’s lukewarm attitude towards resolving critical issues raised by the union.

He said the ongoing neglect was affecting not just union members but the entire academic system and the nation as a whole.

Nwokoma also criticized the distribution of the recently disbursed ₦50 billion Earned Allowances (EA) and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), stating that ASUU was allegedly allocated 80 percent of the total amount while NAAT, along with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), were left to share the remaining 20 percent. He said the NEC strongly condemned the allocation formula and called it unjust and unacceptable.

The union further highlighted other longstanding issues including the need to mainstream specific allowances such as field trip allowances, student/technologist staff ratio supplementation, the Students’ Work Experience Programme (SWEP), and call duty allowances.

NAAT also demanded the completion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NAAT Agreement, the implementation of the new national minimum wage consequential adjustment, and the payment of seven months’ arrears of occupational hazard allowances.

They are also seeking the release of third-party deductions from the previously withheld salaries that were later paid.

If no concrete action is taken by the government, Nwokoma stated that NAAT branches across the country would embark on a first phase of protest on August 6, followed by a second nationwide demonstration on August 13, and a final protest rally in Abuja on August 20.

He said members have already begun sensitization and mobilization activities in preparation for the planned actions.

Despite the planned protests, the union reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful dialogue and constructive engagement.

Nwokoma urged the government to seize the opportunity to avert a full-blown industrial crisis.

He also called on the general public, traditional rulers, religious leaders, members of the National Assembly, and all well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and prevail on the Federal Government to resolve the issues and maintain the fragile peace currently being enjoyed in the nation’s universities.