The Federal government will today Tuesday, present a certificate of registration to a factional Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The move is part of government’s plan to curtail the powers of the Emmanuel Odsedeke’s Academic Staff Union of Universities which has been on strike since February 14, 2022 in spite of efforts to satisfy their demands.
The new union goes by the name, Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), with Niyi Sunmonu as its national coordinator.
Minister of Labour and Employment Dr Chris Ngige will do the presentation.
This was contained in an invitation sent to journalists on Tuesday by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Oshundun Olajide.
CONUA is a breakaway faction of ASUU with a presence in a few federal universities. Niyi Sunmonu is a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
The message by the Ministry of Labour read: “The Honorable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige cordially invites you to the recognition and presentation of Certificate of Registration to the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA).
“The Programme is scheduled to hold as follows:
“Date: Tuesday, 4th October 2022
“Venue: Hon. Minister Conference Room, Federal Secretariat, Phase 1, Abuja.
“Time: 2:00pm
“Your media organisation is invited to cover the event and strictly by invitation.”
ASUU has been on strike since February 14 to press home its demands.
Despite a ruling by the National Industrial Court on Sept 21, 2022 ordering the university to return to work, the University lecturers have remained adamant.
Last week, ASUU through its lawyers, filed an appeal against the court ruling.