The Nigerian government has completed the registration process of two recently registered academic unions in Nigerian universities- the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Labor and Employment, Chris Ngige, presented the union with a certificate of registration and an official sheet on Tuesday.
The minister also said that the government is working on modalities to release the eight months salary of its members withheld.
Mr. Ngige before announced the registration of two trade unions on October 4, 2022, when the dispute with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was in the industrial court.
He said CONUA and NAMDA will co-exist with ASUU in Nigerian universities.
CONUA is a splinter group from ASUU that was formed in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), after the crisis of leadership that shook the institution of ASUU during the process of electing the 12 substantive vice-chancellors of OAU in 2016.
After the irreconcilable differences, some members of ASUU who suffered, led by the current National Coordinator of CONUA, ‘Niyi Sunmonu, formed CONUA and applied for registration with the government in 2018.
“By doing this, both unions are officially recognized and have been registered to liberate the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as well as the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD),” Mr Ngige told CONUA and NAMDA leaders on Tuesday. .
He said that since the two unions have been officially gazetted, they are entitled to all workers’ rights as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions.
Justification for registration
Mr. Ngige said the lack of democracy, transparency and failure to give proper account of audit dues by ASUU, to members and government, culminated in the emergence of the new union.
“Before 2020, CONUA has approached the ministry complaining about the lack of democracy, transparency in the leadership of ASUU, especially to give a proper account of the check dues sent from the government,” he said. “Based on the complaint, the ministry decided to register CONUA members in order to operate as a full union that has issued a certificate of registration and gazetting which is part of section 3:2 ITUC.”
On salary withheld
The minister also said that the federal government is working on modalities to pay the salaries of CONUA and NAMDA members who were detained during the ASUU strike.
Mr. Sunmonu added confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES if the union receives a letter from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, requesting a list of members to pay withheld salaries.
The minister said it would be an injustice to make him a victim because he never joined the strike in the first place.
Speaking, the National Coordinator of CONUA, Mr. Sunmonu, praised the minister for the presentation of the certificate, saying “now that CONUA has been given official support through the presentation of the certificate, the era of continuous attacks on the university system is over.”
Mr. Sunmonu, who claimed that the high leadership of ASUU is what gave birth to CONUA, also decried the continuous remittance of membership check dues to ASUU.
Mr. Sunmonu said: “Today is a historic and exciting day to return to this great Ministry as the conclusion of the final phase of CONUA registration, marked by the collection of certificates,” he said. “We appreciate the Minister of Labor and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, and his incredible team for completing the registration of CONUA with the issuance of the union registration certificate today.”
“At CONUA, our main goal at all times is to promote the welfare of our members, while remaining conscious of our primary national interest… With this complete registration, we assure Nigerians that we will begin meaningful and realistic discussions and negotiations with the government federal and all other stakeholders on how to get a better deal for university lecturers.
The president of NAMDA, Ali Ramat, also praised the minister and his team for the presentation of the certificate.
Qosim Suleiman is a journalist at Premium Times in partnership Report to the Worldwhich matches local newsrooms with emerging journalists with a talent for reporting on issues not covered around the world
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