Why We Suspended Strike - NAAT

The National Association of Academic Technologists on Thursday said it suspended its 158-day-old strike for three months “to allow the government time to conclude negotiations and implementation of NAAT’s demands”.

The PUNCH reports that like other tertiary institution-based unions, NAAT had embarked on strike to push home its lingering demands.

But the union’s President, Ibeji Nwokoma, while addressing the press in Abuja said the suspension of the strike would last for three months.

“It is important to state that at the expiration of the three months window period, NAAT will not hesitate to resume the suspended strike action without notice if all the issues agreed upon with the Minister of Education, on behalf of the government, are not holistically addressed.

“The National Executive Council, in the interest of the nation, unanimously resolved to suspend the ongoing strike action for three months to enable the government to address all the issues at stake, effective from midnight of Friday, August 26, 2022.”

He said NAAT rejected the position of the government on “No Work No Pay” and demanded that their withheld salaries be paid without delay, noting that his union followed all laid down rules before embarking on strike.

He said, “It should be noted that NAAT complied with all laid down procedures before embarking on the industrial action. Therefore, NAAT demands in strong terms the payment of our withheld salaries without delay.”

NAAT, however, implored the Minister of Education “to plead with the government on passionate ground to pay the August 2022 salaries to members of NAAT immediately the strike is suspended.”