In an apparent bid to break the ranks of the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU), the Federal Government on Tuesday issued Certificate of Recognition to two factional unions in the tertiary education system.
The two unions are the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) and the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA).
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, explained that the two bodies will co-exist with ASUU.
Indications of the event emerged earlier when an invitation was sent to reporters on Tuesday by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Oshundun Olajide to attend the event.
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The invitation reads “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).
CONUA is a union for lecturers across the nation’s universities and it is led by a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Niyi Sunmonu.
The group was established in 2018 at the Osun State-based university.
It would be recalled that ASUU had been on strike since February 14, 2022 as lecturers of public universities protest unpaid allowances and demand better welfare package from the Federal Government.
It is not clear what the implication of recognising the body will be on the seven-month industrial action by ASUU.