Frustrated and feeling sidelined, members of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) are gearing up for nationwide protests, set to begin on August 6, over months of unpaid salaries and what they describe as decades of neglect by the Federal Government.
This isn’t just another union threat—it’s a cry for dignity and fairness in Nigeria’s struggling university system.
What’s Fueling Their Anger?
According to a statement by NAAT President, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, the union is protesting three and a half months of withheld salaries, the non-payment of consequential minimum wage adjustments, and a long list of unresolved issues that affect their welfare and work environment.
“Technologists in Nigerian universities play a crucial role in the learning and research process,” Nwokoma said. “We cannot be expected to give our best when our basic entitlements are denied.”
A Bitter Pill: Sharing of ₦50 Billion
One of the most stinging grievances was the recent disbursement of ₦50 billion in Earned Allowances. According to NAAT, ASUU reportedly received 80%, while the remaining 20% was shared among NAAT, SSANU, and NASU.
“This lopsided sharing formula is not just unfair—it’s insulting,” Nwokoma said. “We all contribute to the system, yet we are treated like afterthoughts.”
More Than Just Salaries
Beyond pay, NAAT is also demanding:
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Implementation of field trip and call duty allowances
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Support for the Students’ Work Experience Programme (SWEP)
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Payment of occupational hazard and responsibility allowances
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Recognition of CONTISS 14 & 15 for technologists’ career progression
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Release of withheld third-party deductions
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Completion of the FGN/NAAT 2009 Agreement renegotiation
Deadlines Set, Protests Loom
After a 21-day ultimatum expired without government response, NAAT’s 59th National Executive Council (NEC)meeting—held at Yobe State University—resolved to begin peaceful but firm nationwide demonstrations:
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August 6: First wave of protests
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August 13: Second protest
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August 20: Major rally in Abuja
In a memo signed by General Secretary Comrade Abubakar Yusuf, all branch chairmen have been directed to begin mobilising and sensitising members ahead of the protests.
Still Open to Dialogue
Despite preparing for a showdown, NAAT says it remains open to peaceful resolution.
“We’re not doing this out of malice or politics,” Nwokoma said. “We just want justice. We urge traditional rulers, religious leaders, lawmakers, and Nigerians of good conscience to help us appeal to the government. Our students deserve peaceful campuses, and our members deserve fair treatment.”
A System in Distress
As Nigeria’s tertiary institutions continue to face funding challenges and staff agitations, NAAT’s impending protests underscore a broader crisis in the educational sector—one where neglect, underfunding, and broken promises have become the norm.
Whether the government responds before August 6 remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Nigeria’s academic technologists are done waiting in silence.
