The Federal Government, led by the minister of labor and employment- Chris Ngige has notified the public that they would commence the registration of a new university union, to replace the striking ASUU.
The notification was made after members of Congress of University Academics (CONUA), led by its National Coordinator, Niyi Sunmonu, paid a courtesy visit to the minister.
CONUA is a union of university staff who are against the activities of the prevalent Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)
From the minister’s speech, it can be gathered that CONUA has applied to be a formal university union that can liaise with the Federal Government as well as other authorities.
Chris Ngige welcomed the delegate and stated that “the journey to have you registered has just started”!
“We are receiving you in audience formally today in this ministry. We have the right to receive associations of persons that are workers, whether we have registered them or not, just as you have the right to apply for registration which is the lawful thing to do,” he said.
“We have the right to receive and hold meetings with you. The journey to have you registered has just started.
“You have done the right thing by applying and this ministry has also done the right thing by processing your registration.
“The review of your application for registration is ongoing. I have put up a committee to look into that review. I will ask the committee to wind up its work.
“We are giving them four weeks from today to turn in their report to the ministry”.