–Tells FG to drop deadline for COVID-19 compulsory vaccination
—Condemns abduction of UniAbuja staff, others

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

THE National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT has insisted that the N22.1billion approved by the Federal Government as Earned Allowances should be disbursed fairly in line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed by all parties.

Recall that three unions, namely the Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions, NASU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT got an approval of N22.127billion to settle outstanding Earned Allowances.

But the alleged directive by government that ASUU should take a lion share of 75 percent of the total sum, while the other three unions share the remaining 25 percent among themselves appears to be brewing tension among the various unions.

NAAT President, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma while briefing the media on Thursday, expressed disappointment in government over refusal to stick to the MOU dated 4th February, 2021.

According to Nwokoma, the 25 percent allocated to the non teaching staff unions should be clearly allocated to each union on the basis of signed FGN/ University based unions 2009 agreement.

NAAT equally decried the spate of abduction within the University system, describing Tuesday’s kidnapping of six persons at University of Abuja as unfortunate.

It also condemned the spate of building collapse in the country, insisting that government should ensure that all agencies must adhere to building regulations.

His words, “NAAT considered the recent spate of kidnapping and killings in the country with concern especially with the kidnap of some staff of the University of Abuja and call on government at all levels to adopt proactive strategies of preventing security breach around all campuses and the larger community

“NAAT is concerned with the spate of building collapse in the country and attendant loss of lives and properties associated with the collapse. NAAT is calling on relevant agencies of government at all levels to ensure adherence of all building projects with the building regulations”.

On vaccination, he said, “Our position on compulsory vaccination for our workers is that we are of the view that it is very wrong for the government to say that vaccination should be compulsory. Vaccination cannot and should not be made compulsory for citizens.

“We will rather plead with the government to work on the conscience of the people or encourage people to go and do vaccination if anybody thinks he should take it. We are asking the government to please withdraw that deadline as it is not proper to ask citizens to be compulsorily vaccinated.”