Nigerians and students are responding to the registration of the two new academic unions; the Congress of Nigerian University Academics and the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics.
A sample of opinion has describe the acknowledgement of the unions as a threat to the Nigerian university system. Last week, the Federal Government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, presented certificates of registration to CONUA and NAMDA.
Responding to the occasion, the National Association of University Students, South West, insisted that CONUA and NAMDA would pose a greater threat to universities’ progress.
In a statement signed by the NAUS Southwest Vice-President, Adesoji Oladimeji, read “the decision of the Federal Government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, to ignore the Academic Staff Union of Universities by presenting a certificate of registration to other rival academic unions is a mere distraction and the divide and conquer method will pose a great threat to the university community”.
Adesoji also added, “The legal process embarked on by the federal government is seen as a joke, abuse of office and an action to jeopardise negotiations with ASUU and not with the interest of student’s heart”.
They described the actions of the Minister as unprofessional and uncouth, saying it would jeopardise the negotiation process with ASUU.
Students and other well-meaning Nigerians also took to their social media platforms to express their displeasure. Speaking on a Televised show, former INEC chairman, Atahiru Jega describe the move as desperate and personal by the Minister of Labour.
Another commentator and Activist, Abdul Mahmud tweeted “You have to understand how unions work in the academic environment to know that this CONUA will help nobody. Ngige has not learned from history.
IBB tried it with NANS and ASUU in 1991 and 1992 and failed disastrously. 1991, IBB through late Prof Babs Fafunwa recognised Post Graduate Students Association to delegitimise NANS that the Government claimed it banned through Decree No. 89 and failed.
In 1992 it tried same trick with Jega-led ASUU and failed. Ngige is a poor student of history and it is sad that it is his likes that are today ruining our country and the lives of our youths” he wrote.
Likewise, 200 level student of History at the University of Ibadan, Tijani Abdulkabeer, said, “CONUA can not solve the issue of the ongoing industrial actions, because they are just a faction of the academics and do not occupy up to one-third of the federal institutions in Nigeria and will also have the same issues that ASUU is currently facing now in the near future.
A graduate of International Relations from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Damilola Adebowale, who is unable to go for his NYSC as a result of the ongoing strike, said freedom of association was a human right. He however, added that the new union would have negative effects on students.
He said, ‘‘CONUA has always been in OAU and yet the school is on strike. The association has a lot of work to do to build their relevance and it is going to take years, not anytime soon”.
500-level student of Metallurgical and Material Engineering, University of Lagos, Toluwani Sopeju, said, ‘‘A new union is only possible if the demands of ASUU are met because the other unions can not also function well without being paid unless the new unions have decided to work without gratification.
