Gabriel Dike
The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) on Monday debunked the insinuations making rounds that the Federal Government and some Vice Chancellors were behind the move to register a new academic body.
The new academic body seeking registration with the Ministry of Labour and Employment also stressed that CONUA will forge ahead with it’s quest to get government recognition.
The National Coordinator of CONUA, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu told our Correspondent that the new body has come to stay in the Nigerian University System (NUS).
Dr. Sunmonu said having two academic unions in NUS can be likened to what happened in the labour sector some years ago.
He denied the rumours making rounds that the federal government and some vice chancellors were instigating the formation and registration of CONUA to counter the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
According to him, no amount of propaganda will stop the registration of CONUA and revealed that academic unions in some universities have indicated interest to join CONUA.
“The federal government is not sponsoring CONUA. We don’t have any dealings with government. We have issues with ASUU. No vice chancellor is backing us. Rather, we are aware that ASUU is using its might to stall the registration, but we will press on as we have the constitution that guarantees freedom of association on our side. When we get registered, like wildfire, many universities will show interest in joining us,” Sunmonu stressed.
Ngige on Sunday confirmed that CONUA had applied to be registered by the ministry and that a committee has been set up to look at their application.