FG registers two new academic unions to weaken ASUU
The Federal Government on Tuesday took the bold step to break the ranks of university lecturers by approving the registration of two more unions to rival the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The two new unions are Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, presented both unions with certificates of registration in Abuja.
Speaking at the certificate presentation ceremony, Ngige advised the newly registered unions not to interfere with the activities of the university management and the governing council.
According to him, ASUU is interfering with the rights of employers by insisting that the University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (UTAS) be adopted as a payment platform for its members.
“These associations will exist side by side with ASUU in Nigerian universities,” said Mr Ngige, citing the ILO convention.
The development is the latest move by the Federal Government to bring ASUU, which has been on strike for almost eight months to its knees.
CONUA is led by ‘Niyi Sunmonu, a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). The union constantly dissociated itself from any strike declared by ASUU.
