Strike: We’re relevant, CONUA fires back at ASUU

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has asked the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to face the new realities in the nation’s public universities as it can no longer exclusively represent the interests of the generality of lecturers in the system.

The union maintained that it has the legal right to be involved, just as ASUU, in any discussion or issue that will affect or have bearing on its members.

CONUA made this submission in a statement signed by its North-West Coordinator and Chairperson of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, chapter of the union, Dr.Nasiru Yunusa.

The statement was a reaction to ASUU’s earlier comment as reported by Nigerian Tribune on its Thursday, November 14th, 2024 edition, that CONUA is not relevant on matters concerning the ongoing renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement between the former and the Federal Government and should therefore not bother to ask for inclusion in the committee set up by the federal government for the assignment.

According to CONUA, it would not have bothered to join issues with ASUU on the matter of the renegotiation committee but done so not only to counter “the lies and half-truths spewed by ASUU, which have become its modus operandi but also as its patriotic duty to put the facts before the public to let Nigerians be the judge.

The union said, “CONUA had advanced the rationale for seeking its inclusion in the renegotiation committee and this has been put before the Federal Government, noting that up and until October 2022, including the time the 2009 Agreement was signed, ASUU represented the interests of all academics being the only registered union of academics as at then.

“It then naturally follows that the proprietorship of the agreement extends to CONUA (after it was registered as an academic union) and all the issues to be discussed and renegotiated will have a bearing on CONUA members.

“This is because the interest of CONUA members can only be served when it is adequately represented by the officials of the union where all issues relating to the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement will be thoroughly brought to the fore and discussed; and the resulting agreements will be a fair representation of CONUA’s perspective.

“So, we considered the non-inclusion of CONUA as an oversight on the part of the government. It is quite ridiculous then that a union could be celebrating this knowing well they alone can no longer represent all the academic members in the universities.”

CONUA further explained that, “A union that is looking for a total solution to the issues of welfare in the universities will be open to inclusive negotiation with all concerned.”

The union pointed out that its was registered formally as an entity after five years delay in August, 2022 and that ASUU challenged the registration before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria on 26th October, 2022 (NICN/ABJ/336/2022) and which ruled in its favour.

That judgement, CONUA said, ASUU is yet to appeal till date and “it is understandable, because ASUU was upbraided for their shoddiness and incompetence in the filing of the case and their refusal to provide requisite evidence and witnesses.

“So, nothing could therefore be more asinine than ASUU’s labelling of CONUA’s epochal success as being “used and dumbed!

“It is indeed a betrayal of deep-thinking scholarship that a university Professor would be ignorantly bleating about “unionism etched on opportunism and charlatanism will always end in disgrace and heartbreak.”

CONUA argued further that “What qualifies ASUU as a union of academics is its registration as a trade union, and this is also true of CONUA, having been duly registered as a trade union.

“So, CONUA will advise that if ASUU has any axe to grind with the former Minister of Labour and Employment, it should be bold enough to address those issues to him directly, rather than using CONUA.

“This is a dawn of a new era where our universities are free from the shackles of incessant closures, and ASUU should smell the coffee and get used to the new realities.”

Similarly, CONUA berated ASUU for saying it has no honour wondering what honour does ASUU have that after declaring (in 2022).

“total, indefinite, comprehensive and suffocating” strike action, later turned around, when the FG implemented the “no work, no pay” rule that it was only the “teaching” component of the academic calling that was abandoned?

According to the union, CONUA has continuously maintained, and has been consistent with the assertion that incessant strike actions have destroyed the Nigerian University system which has reflected in the recent poor ranking of Nigerian universities in the global space.

The union maintained that even though “is a new kid on the block, it started with fighting for equity, justice, fairness and improved welfare for members and has maintained that path consistently, and posterity will adjudge it on the path of morality and decency.