ASUU to sue FGN over registration of CONUA, NAMDA

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it will sue the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) over the registration of the Congress of Nigerian Universities Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).

Femi Falana, ASUU’s lawyer, disclosed this to Channels Television, Thursday in a report monitored by The Nation.

The federal government through the Ministry of Labour, on Tuesday, approved the registration of the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), a breakaway faction of ASUU and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).

According to the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, the two organisations would co-exist with ASUU and will be granted the same advantages and rights as other academic unions in the tertiary education system.

Universities have been under lock and key since February 14 when ASUU embarked on strike to press their demands while several meetings to resolve the impasse were deadlocked.

READ ALSO: FGN moves to recognise ASUU’s rival group

Falana maintained that the ASUU would sue the Federal Government over the registration of the two unions.

“ASUU is going to court. It is going to be the NIC,” Falana said.

He asserted that the registration of CONUA and NAMDA was unlawful according to the Trade Unions Act, only one union may function in each sector.

“You can’t have two trade unions in the same sector. Only a union is allowed to be registered for all academics in Nigeria.

“That is the essence of the classification of trade unions because we used to have mushrooms in the First Republic so the government restructured the unions and grouped all academics together and all non-academics together. You can’t have two or three in one field,” Falana added.

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