By JOAN NWAGWU

The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has called for the immediate release of an additional N50 billion earned allowance for its members.

Mr Ibeji Nwokoma, President of NAAT, made the call in a statement issued after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.

The statement, titled “Rejection of the Unfair and Unjust Sharing Formula Adopted by the Federal Ministry of Education on N50 Billion Earned Allowances,” criticised the allocation of funds by the Federal Ministry of Education.

It also expressed concern over the role of the National Universities Commission (NUC) in the distribution process.

Nwokoma stated that NAAT rejected the allocation, which saw 80 per cent of the N50 billion allocated to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), with the remaining 20 per cent divided among NAAT, NASU, and SSANU.

He further emphasised that NAAT demanded a separate N50 billion be released specifically for its members, as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Federal Government and NAAT on Aug. 17, 2022.

“NAAT calls for fairness, equity, justice, and fair play for all, and we demand an immediate reversal of this allocation.

“The decision to allocate 80 per cent of the funds to one union while neglecting the others is unfair and unjust,” Nwokoma said.

He expressed confusion over the rationale behind the allocation and condemned the uneven distribution of earned allowances.

He stressed that such actions threatened industrial peace and undermined harmonious relationships among stakeholders in the university sector.

Nwokoma also highlighted the crucial role of Academic Technologists in promoting teaching and research, which were central to the core mandate of universities.

He warned that marginalising the group could result in the decline of vital teaching, research, and innovation in universities, ultimately leading to a generation of unemployable graduates due to a lack of practical skills. (NAN)