The Federal Government and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to avert a planned nationwide strike by the union.
Mr Muhammad Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja. after a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government representatives and the leadership of NAAT
It would be recalled that the union had threatened to commence a nationwide protest on August 6, over the non implementation of all outstanding issues reached with the Federal Government.
Dingyadi said the meeting resolved to set up a technical committee to address the issue of mainstreaming of allowances of NAAT members.
“This include Field Trip, Student Technologist Staff Ratio Supplementation, Student Work Experience Programme (SWEP), and call duty allowances,” he said.
The minister said that the committee comprises of the Budget Office of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, two representatives each from NAAT, National Universities Commission (NUC).
The minister said others were the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and Federal Ministry of Education.
He said the committee has two weeks to submit its report.
Dingyadi said the meeting also directed the same committee to handle the payment of three and a half months’ withheld salaries
He said others issues were, the release of third-party deductions of the two-month withheld salaries, payment of seven and 11 months arrears of Occupational Hazard and Responsibility Allowances respectively.
He further said that the meeting directed the NUC to revisit for possible resolution of the omitted payment of arrears of 30,000 Minimum Wage to members of NAAT that was implemented in 2019.
He said the meeting agreed that the committee handling the mainstreaming of allowances should also look into the payment of one year arrears of 35 per cent and 25 per cent salary increment.
On the release of the N50bn to settle outstanding claims of earned allowances of NAAT members, Dingyadi said the meeting directed the Federal Ministry of Labour to follow up with the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure possible supplementary payment to NAAT.
He also said the meeting mandated the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to follow up with the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure early completion of the protracted FGN/NAAT 2009 Agreement renegotiation exercise.
Furthermore, he said the meeting noted that the consequential adjustment of the New Minimum Wage has been implemented as negotiated by the Joint Public Negotiating Council.
On the release of enabling circular for career progression to CONTISS 14 and 15 for Academic Technologists, he said the meeting directed the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to write to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to expedite action on it.
He said the meeting agreed that another conciliation meeting would be held in three weeks to review the situation and consider the report of the committee.
Signatories to the MOU on the government side include Mr Harry Ogugua, Acting Head of Industrial and Labour Relations Division, NUC; Emmanuel Onung, Representative of Federal Ministry of Education and Mr Falonipe Amos, Director, Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment
Mr Ibeji Nwokoma, President of NAAT and Mr Abubakar Yusuf, General Secretary, signed on behalf of the union.