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NAAT decries shortfall in personnel cost of varsities

By Collins Olayinka, Abuja
11 April 2017   |   3:32 am
The communiqué, which was jointly signed by the President of the Association, Sani Suleiman and General Secretary, Iyoyo Hamilton also stressed the need for government to fully pay the earned allowances...

Urges payment of earned allowances

The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has bemoaned the shortfall in personnel cost being experienced in most universities in the country. According to the communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Calabar, the Association posited that the shortfall in the cost could threaten the industrial peace in the tertiary institutions.

The communiqué, which was jointly signed by the President of the Association, Sani Suleiman and General Secretary, Iyoyo Hamilton also stressed the need for government to fully pay the earned allowances, implement the FGN/NAAT agreement and begin the process renegotiation.

“NAAT frowns at the shortfall in personnel cost currently experienced by Federal and State Universities, and therefore urges FGN as a matter of urgency to arrest the situation for sustenance of peace in the University System. NAAT expresses displeasure over non-payment of the balance of earned allowances arrears and FGN’s lack of commitment to fully implement the 2009 FGN/NAAT Agreement,” it said.

The Union therefore demands immediate payment of the arrears and full implementation of the agreement in order to avoid industrial disharmony. NAAT equally implores the federal government to speed up the agreement renegotiation process between the unions and its team,” it said.

While expressing worry about the growing allegation of corruption against university administrators in recent times, the association said it was important for the federal government to move with precision and sanction any administrator found wanting on corruption.

NAAT observed that the efforts by the Federal Government the economic recession are still not enough and producing less impact that is efficacious enough to return the economy to the path of growth and development.

It further said: “NAAT observes with dismay, the current economic recession being experienced by the country and urges FGN to quickly put in motion all machineries necessary to arrest the situation, in order to bring succour to the suffering masses.”

According to NAAT, the state governments would only utilize the Paris Club refund creditably only when formidable mechanisms are put in place to ensure judicious use of the fund.

NAAT lauded the federal government for instituting policies that have seen a steady rise in the value of the Naira while urging government not to relent but seek more policies that would sustain the current gains in the months ahead.

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