The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has expressed dissatisfaction over its exclusion from the list of university staff unions invited by the Federal Government (FG) to re-negotiate the 2009 Agreement with the unions.
In a protest letter dated October 14, 2024, and signed by its National President, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, the union addressed its concerns to the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.
The letter highlighted that the exclusion could lead to industrial disharmony in the university system. Copies of the letter were also sent to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Labour and Employment, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Titled “Re: Inauguration of Re-Negotiation Committee, Non-Invitation of Congress of University Academics, CONUA,” the letter detailed CONUA’s frustration with the government’s continuous exclusion of the union from discussions directly affecting its members.
The letter stated:
“The national leadership of the Congress of University Academics, CONUA, is in receipt of an invitation letter to a sister union titled ‘Inauguration of Re-Negotiation Committee’ dated 10th October 2024 and written by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo. CONUA, for the umpteenth time, was taken aback that issues concerning its members, previously represented by the sole academic union, would be discussed without extending an invitation to CONUA.”
The union expressed concern that the Federal Ministry of Education is deliberately sidelining a legally recognized academic union. It also emphasized that any agreement reached without CONUA’s participation would directly affect its members, making the exclusion unjust and potentially harmful to the university system.
Sunmonu recalled that the union had previously written several letters to the Minister of Education and other government agencies, protesting the exclusion of CONUA from critical activities. He pointed out that in May 2024, CONUA protested its exclusion from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) activities, a situation that has persisted despite the union’s repeated efforts to engage with TETFund.
“We see this development as a deliberate attempt to sideline and undermine us. However, they should note that we are duly registered as an academic union in the university system and have members across universities nationwide. The Federal Government should do the needful to avoid another round of industrial disharmony,” Sunmonu stressed.
On Tuesday, the FG announced the inauguration of a committee led by former Head of Service, Yayale Ahmed, to reconsider the 2009 Agreement. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions (NASU) were invited to participate, but CONUA was left out.
CONUA was officially registered by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022 during an eight-month ASUU strike. The 2009 Agreement between university staff unions and the government has been a source of contention, particularly regarding the release of N200 billion annually for university infrastructure upgrades and the periodic re-negotiation of welfare issues. To date, only one N200 billion payment has been made, and the welfare reviews, meant to occur every four years, have not been implemented.
