Group of lecturers under the aegis of Congress of University Academics, CONUA has called for the immediate reopening of universities for the resumption of academic activities.
Recall that CONUA has applied to the Minister of Labour and Employment
to be registered as one of the academic unions in the universities. The group
has been in loggerhead with ASUU and has been making frantic effort to be
registered as a separate union.
CONUA stormed the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN
on Friday in solidarity and support for the Federal Government for the
Universities to reopen for academic activities without preconditions so that
Court proceedings and negotiations can continue with students back in
classrooms. CONUA is preponderantly made up of senior lecturers, lecturers and
some Professors who claim to be tired of ASUU Strike methodology.
The suit instituted by the Federal Government against the
striking ASUU at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria over the prolonged
strike is expected to continue today (Monday).CONUA had on Friday declared its
interest to join the case in court.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, its National Coordinator,
Niyi Sumonu, who led his members to court said they were discussing with their
counsels to see how they could join the matter on point of law.He said they
applied to the Federal Ministry of Labour for registration in 2018 and were
waiting for the handing over of the registration certificate.
According to him, “We are interested in the case because any
matter pertaining to the universities, teaching, lecturing and industrial
action is of utmost importance to us because the outcome will have a bearing on
us.
“Because we are waiting for registration, we cannot be part
of the suit. We are talking to our counsel to see which part of the law will
make us come into the suit.”
Sumonu added that their members who are from Federal and
State universities have never been on strike.
ASUU proceeded on one month warning strike on 14th February
over the alleged inability of the Federal Government to meet up with their
demands and has been extending the strike up till date.
Some of the demands include the renegotiation of the 2009
Agreement, payment of Earned Academic Allowance, the
inconsistencies occasioned by IPPIS and demand for
replacement of the payment platform with the University Transparency
Accountability Solution, UTAS, among others.
Although the government had claimed it has made offers to
ASUU, the union also claimed there has not been any meaningful offer from the government,
hence, it has remained adamant in calling off the seven month old strike. -Vanguard