Don't behave like ASUU, Ngige tells new union CONUA

• Published date: 18 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The Federal Government has concluded the registration of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics.

They broke away from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The government said with the completion of CONUA's registration as a university union, it has been liberated from ASUU's stranglehold.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, met with the union's President, 'Niyi Sunmonu, and other executives in Abuja.

Before the meeting went into a closed-door session, the minister warned the university lecturers not to 'behave like ASUU members.'

Ngige presented the official gazette, the Trade Dispute Act, and the official certificate of registration to the unions' leaders.

The minister noted that having been gazetted, the unions were entitled to all labour rights as enshrined in the International Trade Unions' constitution.

He said the government decided to 'break the monolithic' nature of ASUU because of the damage done to the university system through incessant strikes.

Ngige urged security agencies to be on alert and avoid attacks on CONUA members.

He said the gazetting and certificate presentation conformed with Section 3 (2) of the International Trade Union policy.

Ngige said: 'Trade unionism is for workers and employers of labour to organise themselves and it is a voluntary act.

'Before 2020, CONUA had approached the ministry complaining of...