Academic Technologists Reject FG Loan Scheme, Demand Outstanding Benefits

The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has rejected the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF) initiated by the Federal Government, urging the government to use the funds to settle the outstanding claims of its members.

Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF) is a Federal Ministry of Education initiative aimed at enhancing the welfare and professional development of staff in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

NAAT viewed the TISSF loan as a distraction, adding that its members do not need a loan that could lead to perpetual financial obligations, especially with NAAT cooperatives available for short-term financial needs.

The union in a statement by its national president, Ibeji Nwokoma, urged the government to release payment of all outstanding arrears legitimately earned by members.

This, the union said includes payment of the three and a half months of withheld salaries, payment of seven months arrears of Occupational Hazard Allowance, and release of third-party deductions for the two months of withheld salaries that were paid.

The union further demands payment of 11 months arrears of Responsibility Allowance, payment of 12-month arrears of 25% & 35% salary increase, payment of 4-month arrears of wage award, payment of arrears of the N30,000 Minimum Wage to omitted NAAT members, as well as the release of supplementary funds to pay the outstanding claims of Earned Allowances of NAAT members.

NAAT strongly condemned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory’s purported revocation of University of Abuja land, citing it as a unilateral and arbitrary action violating the University’s governing laws.

The union emphasised that the land is a national treasure for the institution, allocated for future expansion in Research Centres, new academic programmes, increase in students’ population, and need for additional hostel accommodations.

It noted that the decision to revoke the land was taken without proper consideration of the University’s masterplan, which will cause major distortions in its implementation by limiting expansion to only four thousand hectares of land.

“This land has been specifically allocated to support future expansion in Research Centres, new academic programmes, as well as an increase in students population and the need for additional hostel accommodations.

“Moreover, the decision to revoke the land was taken without proper consideration of the University’s masterplan, which will cause major distortions in its implementation by limiting any expansion to only four thousand hectares of land,” the union said.

It urged the National Assembly, particularly committees on tertiary education and TETFund of the Senate and House of Representatives, to call the Minister in order to reverse the purported revocation in the interest of the country’s development.

Academic Technologists Reject FG Loan Scheme, Demand Outstanding Benefits is first published on The Whistler Newspaper