Registration of CONUA exercise in futility – ASUU

October 4, (THEWILL) – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has described the recognition of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) by the Federal Government as a shadow chasing.

THEWILL reported that the Federal Government on Tuesday 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 move has been seen as an attempt to break the ranks of the striking members of ASUU.

But in a swift reaction to the approval granted CONUA, ASUU said it is not perturbed about the action, which would not take away anything from the union.

The Lagos Zonal Coordinator of the Union, Dr. Adelaja Odukoya, said government action is “simply shadow chasing. Leaving leprosy and wasting time on ringworm. Nothing more, nothing else.”

On the claim by CONUA that members cut-cross 17 universities, Odukoya said: “interesting, he who asserts must prove.

How many public universities do you have in Nigeria.”

According to him, in Nigeria, there is Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) and ASUU is not concerned about the recognition.

On what would be the reaction of ASUU if the government starts negotiation with CONUA, the ASUU Lagos coordinator asked “is the government interested in negotiation or award?

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Former ASUU chairman, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Dr. Adebayo Oni, described the approval granted CONUA as an exercise in futility.

His words: Let us wait and see how events unfold. No problem. Let them take off first,” stating that ASUU is not worried about the recognition accorded CONUA.

Meanwhile, CONUA has said the body will work towards ensuring that the nation is no longer traumatized by academic union dislocations.

National Coordinator, CONUA, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, made the promise in a statement shortly after the federal government presented a certificate of registration to CONUA.

He stated that the registration of CONUA as a trade union is monumentally historic.m, describing it as “the validation of the power of the human will.”

Noting that the union has been on the struggle since 2018, Sunmonu said “it asserts the value of courage, initiative, focus, tenacity, patience, forbearance and persistent positive thinking.

“We are immensely grateful to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, and his team of diligent staff for insisting on merit, due process and thoroughness all through the processing of our application for the registration of DrUA. The very strict and dispassionate review of our application brought out the best in the membership of the Union.

“We regard the registration of CONUA as a sacred trust and pledge to reciprocate by devoting ourselves unceasingly to the advancement of university education in this country.

“We would make the details of our programmes available to the public in due course. For now, we are giving the assurance that we would work to ensure that the nation is not traumatized again by academic union dislocations in the country’s public universities.

“We are also deeply grateful to the numerous personalities and well-wishers whose good counsel and concrete actions have facilitated the success we have witnessed today. We believe in the saying that to whom much is given, much is expected. We would therefore constantly strive to make them all proud of CONUA.

“We appreciate the entire membership of the Union for believing in the righteousness of the CONUA cause and for believing in the leadership of the Union, and thereby remaining salutarily steadfast, even when disconcerting and demoralizing situations arose.”