*As FG breaks ASUU’s ranks, registers two rival bodies
*New bodies inconsequential, poses no threat – ASUU reacts
President Mumammadu Buhari on Tuesday fingered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other lecturers for encouraging corruption in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
He spoke during the fourth National Summit on Diminishing Corruption in the Public Sector, jointly organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), held at the Banquet hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
This is just as the federal government, also on Tuesday moved to break the ranks and weaken the influence of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, when it presented registration certificate to two rival unions in the university system.
The newly registered unions are the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics and the Congress of Nigerian University Academics.(CONUA)
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, who spoke while presenting the certificates of registration to the two unions explained that the two bodies will exist alongside ASUU.
Reacting to the recognition of the bodies in the university system, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said the registration of two new trade unions by the government for academic staff in the university system is inconsequential and does not pose any threat to its existence.
The National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, who reacted to the development stated, “That does not in any way affect us. We are a disciplined and focused union and we know what we are doing and what we are after. Let them register as many unions as they like. That is inconsequential as far as we are concerned. We are not also in any way threatened. The sky is big enough for birds to fly.
ASUU has been on strike since February 14, 2022, as lecturers of public universities protest unpaid allowances and demand better welfare package from the Federal Government.
The AUTHORITY reports that CONUA broke away from the umbrella body of lecturers in Nigeria’s public universities-Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
By issuing a certificate of recognition to CONUA, the federal government has recognized another academic union to ASUU just as it did to Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Minister of Labour and Employment,
Chris Ngige, presented the certificate to CONUA on Tuesday.
The development comes amid a lingering strike by ASUU over the demand for increased funding for public universities, a review of lecturers’ salaries and allowances, among other issues.
The strike has lasted for over seven months.
Meetings between the federal government and ASUU have not yielded any concrete result that signifies that the strike will end soon.
However, the federal government had filed a case against ASUU before the national industrial court over the prolonged strike.
In its ruling, the court had ordered the lecturers to resume, but ASUU has filed an appeal seeking a stay of execution of the judgment.
Recently, the leadership of the House of Representatives met with ASUU and federal government officials over the strike.
President Muhammadu Buhari had, at a recent meeting with pro-chancellors of federal universities, also promised to “make further consultations” over the strike by the lecturers.
New bodies inconsequential, poses no threat – ASUU reacts
Reacting to the recognition of the bodies in the university system, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said the registration of two new trade unions by the government for academic staff in the university system is inconsequential and does not pose any threat to its existence.
The National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, who reacted to the development stated, “That does not in any way affect us. We are a disciplined and focused union and we know what we are doing and what we are after. Let them register as many unions as they like. That is inconsequential as far as we are concerned. We are not also in any way threatened. The sky is big enough for birds to fly.
“We know our members, we know our strength and we also know what our vision and mission are. Our members are not saboteurs or boot lickers . Our struggle is for a better educational system in the country. If the system is good, all of us will benefit and it is not only ASUU members’ children and wards that are going to benefit from improved funding and the provision of better facilities in our institutions,” he said.
The ASUU leader, who rejected the accusation by President Muhammadu Buhari that members of the union are corrupt, said such allegations are unfounded.
“As a union, we have been championing transparency and accountability in the university system. That is why we are calling for the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution, UTAS, as the payment platform in the university system. Those indicted for misappropriating over N100 billion through their IPPIS, are they our members?
“Moreover, one of our demands is that Visitation Panels be set up to probe the activities and the finances of universities in the country. If we don’t want corruption stamped out, we would not be asking for that, ” he explained.
Meanwhile, CONIA in a statement signed by the National Coordinator of CONUA, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, described the registration as monumental and historic.
“The registration of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), as a trade union in the Nigerian university system, is monumentally historic. The hurdles we have faced to get here, since 2018 when we submitted our application for registration, have been seemingly insurmountable. The registration is therefore the validation of the power of the human will. 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 CONUA. 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 traumatised 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 statutorily steadfast, even when disconcerting and demoralising situations arose.
“In this journey, the invaluable role of the media cannot be discounted. We are truly grateful to the media, and look forward to further mutually beneficial interactions as we strive for the development of this nation.
“Above all, we are absolutely grateful to Almighty God for granting us this grace.
