FG divides ASUU!

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*Approves registration of 2 new unions for public varsity lecturers nationwide

*Urges Vice Chancellors to immediately open Universities closed for over 8 months

*Lecturers in public varsities willing to get back to work, says Labour Minister

*Regrets that in the last 8 months, public Varsities have been shut and students at home

By Michael Oche

The federal government on Tuesday approved the registration of two new unions for lecturers in the University sector in an apparent attempt to break the ranks of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige who announced the approval urged Vice Chancellors of Universities to immediately open schools which have been shut for over 8 months to enable the lecturers commence teaching.

The two unions registered are Congress of Nigeria University Academics (CONUA), and Nigeria Association of Medical & Dental Lecturers in Academics (NAMDA).

Ngige said a lot of university teachers in the public universities had indicated their willingness to get back to work while negotiations continue but were obstructed by ASUU officials, while the VCs looked on helplessly.

The Minister said the two groups of lecturer had since 2018 been applying to have their own Academic Associations registered as trade Unions to organise their members because they do not share in the models, objectives, modus operandi, mission and vision of ASUU.

According to him, they cite that under Section 40 of the Constitution they have a right to Freedom of Association with people sharing the same academic vision and mission like minds.

He said In the last eight months, the classrooms in the nation’s Public Universities have been shut and students kept at home by the strike action embarked upon by the Academic staff Union of Nigeria Universities (ASUU) and this ugly situation has persisted despite series of engagements to resolve the trade dispute by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education.

“In line with the provisions of the Trade Disputes Act CAP TS, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, this Strike was apprehended & Conciliations were done in this Ministry on February 22, 2022, and March 1, 2022. However, all efforts at conciliation failed resulting in the transmission of the trade dispute to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) for adjudication in line with the statutory trade dispute resolution processes.

“At the NICN, an Interlocutory Injunction Order was obtained asking the Union to get back to work while the substantive suit is being heard; an order ASUU leadership and members refused to obey. Interestingly, a lot of university teachers in the public universities had indicated their willingness to get back to work while negotiations continue but were obstructed by ASUU officials, while the VCs looked on helplessly”, he said.

He explained that Section 3(2) of the Trade Unions Act, CAP. T14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 gives the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment powers to regroup an existing Trade Union of Workers or Employers.

The Section under reference states “No Combination of workers or employers shall be registered as a Trade Union save with the approval of the Minister on his being satisfied that it is expedient to register the Union either by regrouping existing Trade Union. Registering a new Trade Union or otherwise however….”

He said CONUA applied for Registration since 2018 and cited irreconcilable differences as they do not believe in recurring strikes as the solution to every welfare agitation.

He said the Ministry of Labour and Employment set up a committee to look into the merit of their application, adding that the committee saw merit in the application and recommended approval for the registration of the Association by the Registrar of Trade Unions (RTU) since 2020 But for the advent of COVID-19 pandemic and the recurring ASUU Strike, this would have been done.

He said, “These Associations will exist side by side with ASUU in the Nigerian Universities in the spirit and tenets of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Core Convention nos. 87 & 98 which are respectively on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining; as well as the enthronement of the four (4) pillars and principles of the Decent Work Agenda (DWA) considered necessary for social justice and equity in the world of work.”

“They are accordingly entitled to all rights and privileges accruing to such academic Association/organisation including but not limited to receiving check off dues of their members in accordance with Section 17 of the Trade Unions Act. They are also to have members in the Nigerian University Pension Management Company Limited (NUPEMCO) and being on CONUAS Salary Structure/Scheme, they are equally entitled to Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and all other allowances attached thereto. ASUU despite bickering experienced protests from a large majority of her members including CONUA and NAMDA members,” he added.