The Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), a breakaway group from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), will receive a certificate of recognition from the labour ministry on Tuesday as part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime-sponsored effort to persuade striking university lecturers across the country to end their months-long strike.
According to a statement released by the government, the certificate will be presented to the federal secretariat in Abuja.
“The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Nigige, cordially invites you to the recognition and presentation of certificate of registration to the Congress of Nigerian University of Academics (CONUA),” said the statement. “Your media organisation is invited to cover the event strictly by invitation.”
Following registration, the CONUA, chaired by Niyi Sunmonu, a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University, will represent Nigerian academics in negotiations with the Buhari regime as a full-fledged labor union.
Members of the new union, as opposed to ASUU, are more likely to reach an agreement with the government.
However, ASUU, which has been representing academics for more than four decades, retained a large majority of its membership and insisted on not returning to work until the Buhari regime met its demands.
