Categories: Headlines

FG Breaks ASUU’s Rank, Registers Two Academic Unions

A photo combination of ASUU president and Ngige.

 

The 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).

CONUA is a union for lecturers across the nation’s universities and it is led by a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Niyi Sunmonu. The group was established in 2018 at OAU.

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.

It is not clear what the implication of recognising the bodies will be on the seven month-long industrial action embarked upon by ASUU.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14.

In August, the union declared a “total and indefinite” extension of its industrial action, noting that the government has failed to satisfactorily meets its demands.

The academics are seeking improved welfare, revitalisation of public universities and academic autonomy among other demands.

One bone of contention for the academics is the non-payment of university revitalisation funds, which amounts to about N1.1 trillion.

But the Federal Government has said it doesn’t have the money to pay such an amount, citing low oil prices during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Kayode Oyero

Disqus Comments Loading...
Share
Published by
Kayode Oyero

Recent Posts

NAFDAC Cracks Down On Fake Bottled Water Syndicate In Rivers

The illicit scheme involved affixing pre-printed Eva labels onto the bottles and sealing them with…

1 hour ago

New Senegal President’s Home Village Full Of Pride, Hope And Advice

The uncle of the new president and his namesake Diomaye Faye said that running as…

1 hour ago

‘Caution Wike’, Sekibo, Secondus, Omehia, Others Pledge Support For Tinubu

They expressed their displeasure at the direction of events unfolding politically in the state and…

2 hours ago

Sean Combs, The Rap Mogul Facing A Web Of Sex Crime Allegations

He has no major convictions but has long been trailed by allegations of physical assault,…

2 hours ago

Russian Military Jet Crashes Into Sea Off Crimea

"A military plane has fallen into the sea," Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said in a post…

2 hours ago

VIS Removes 50 Rickety ‘Danfo’ From Lagos Roads

He listed the enforcement locations to include Costain, Ikorodu Road, Ojuelegba, Yaba, Oyingbo, Ikeja, and…

2 hours ago