JUST IN: FG breaks ASUU’s ranks, registers two new academic unions for varsities

Akinwande Soji-Ojo

Following the lingering Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, the Federal Government has moved to break the union’s ranks by registering two new 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).

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, made the announcement while presenting certificates of registration to the new unions at the ministry, on Tuesday.

The development is the latest ploy by the government to bring the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to its knees over the almost eight-month-old industrial action.

Citing ILO convention, Ngige said: “These associations will exist side by side with ASUU in Nigerian universities.”

He advised the newly registered academic 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.

The latest move by the minister may not be unconnected with the recent brickbats between him and the President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke.

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.