The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has called on the Federal Government to conclude the ongoing renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NAAT agreement.
The union also urged the government to conclude talks on salry arrears and address a range of challenges affecting academic technologists and tertiary education sector.
The call was made in a communiqué issued at the end of the 61st regular meeting of NAAT’s National Executive Council (NEC), at the New ETF Auditorium, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam Campus, Anambra State.
The meeting was presided over by NAAT President, Comrade (Hon.) Ibeji Nwokoma, who also signed the communique.
According to the communiqué, the NEC of the association expressed concern over delays in the ongoing renegotiation of the 2009 agreement and urged the government to intensify efforts toward a timely and mutually acceptable outcome that would improve the welfare and working conditions of academic technologists and strengthen technological development in the education sector.
The council also lamented the persistent erratic power supply across the country, noting that it has severely affected laboratory operations, students’ practical learning and research activities.
The union called on the federal government to urgently provide alternative power solutions, including solar and wind energy, to support teaching and research in tertiary institutions.
On taxation, NAAT advocated an increase in the annual income tax exemption threshold from ₦800,000 to ₦2 million, describing the current benchmark as inadequate.
The union also noted that only basic salaries of academic technologists be taxed, while allowances and other components should be exempted, to ease financial pressure on its members.
Addressing national security, the NAAT NEC acknowledged government efforts to tackle rising insecurity but called for expanded strategies and increased deployment of resources to ensure citizens’ safety and create an environment conducive to economic growth and national development.
The council further expressed dismay over the deplorable state of roads, which it said had become increasingly hazardous.
The union, while commending federal and state governments for ongoing road construction projects, called for the prioritisation of urgent repairs on existing roads and the completion of abandoned projects to improve safety and connectivity.
On capacity building, NAAT commended the federal government for supporting training and retraining of academic technologists through capital grants, but called for increased investment in continuous professional development to enable world-class technological breakthroughs.
The NEC also appreciated the inclusion of academic technologists and laboratory scientists as beneficiaries of TETFund scholarship programmes, while requesting expanded opportunities for international training on the use and maintenance of modern automated equipment.
In addition, NAAT appealed to the federal government to immediately release three and a half months of withheld salaries owed to its members, and to pay outstanding arrears relating to promotions, 25 and 35 per cent salary increments, the ₦35,000 wage award, and the consequential adjustment to the ₦70,000 minimum wage.
The union said settling these obligations was critical to cushioning the effects of the prevailing economic hardship on its members.
