Buhari govt breaks ASUU’s rank, registers two academic unions

Ilesanmi AdekanbiOctober 4, 2022

1 minute read

The President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government on Tuesday broke the ranks of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) when it registered two unions in the university system.

The unions are the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) and the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA).

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, explained that the two bodies will exist alongside ASUU.

He further stated that the two associations will enjoy the rights and privileges accorded to other academic unions in the tertiary education system.

Following registration, the CONUA, headed by Niyi Sunmonu, a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, would represent Nigerian academics in discussions with the Buhari regime as a full-fledged labour union.

As opposed to ASUU, members of the new union are more likely to achieve an agreement with the regime.

However, ASUU, representing the lecturers for more than four decades, retained a vast majority of the membership and insisted that it would not return to work until the Buhari regime meet its demands.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14, 2022, as lecturers of public universities protest unpaid allowances and demand a better welfare package from the Federal Government.