From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has rejected the Federal Government’s Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF) programme, describing it as a distraction and a scheme that could perpetually enslave workers.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NAAT President, Ibeji Nwokoma, said members of the association do not require loans under the scheme since their cooperatives can cater to short-term financial needs.
Instead, he urged the Federal Government to pay all outstanding arrears legitimately owed to members.
According to Nwokoma, the arrears, include three and a half months of withheld salaries, seven months of Occupational Hazard Allowance, two months of withheld third-party deductions and eleven months of Responsibility Allowance.
Others are; twelve months of arrears of the 25 percent and 35 percent salary increase, four months of wage award arrears, the N30,000 minimum wage arrears for omitted members, as well as outstanding Earned Allowances.
On the reported revocation of 7,000 out of 11,000 hectares of land belonging to Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja) by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, the Union President described the move as unilateral and arbitrary, insisting it violates laws governing the institution.
“The land is not just an asset that can be disposed of at will, but a national treasure belonging to the institution,” the statement read.
Nwokoma noted that the land had been earmarked for future expansion in research, academic programmes, and student accommodation.
NAAT warned that the revocation, which leaves the university with only 4,000 hectares, would distort its masterplan and limit future growth.
The Union urged the Federal Government to channel TISSF funds into settling outstanding claims and called on the National Assembly, especially the committees on tertiary education and TETFund, to prevail on the FCT Minister to reverse the decision in the interest of national development.
Leave a comment