The Federal Government has directed the rival group of ASUU to resume work immediately after receiving the certificate of registration.
The new university-based academic union on Tuesday received the Certificate of Registration from the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The rival group has resisted the union’s on-going strike, which started on February 14 and has been struggling to get approval from the federal government for years now.
The Federal Government, also recognized as a trade union, is the Nigeria Association of Medical and Dental Academics, or NAMDA.
Dr. Chris Ngige, who gave out the letters and copies of the Trade Union Act to the groups at his office in Abuja said
“The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in the discharge of her mandate in the management of Employment Relationships and the Administration of Trade Unions to ensure harmonious industrial relations system in the nation has decided to approve the registration of two (2) more Trade Unions in the Nigerian University Academic Sub Sector.
He also added that the two unions would operate alongside with ASUU.
According to Dr. Chris Ngige, “The University Sub-Sector is a major development plank of any Nation’s Socio Economic growth. Knowledge they say is Power.
“It may be noted that Section 3(2) of the Trade Unions Act, CAP. T14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 gives the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment powers to regroup an existing Trade Union of Workers or Employers. The Section under reference states
“No Combination of workers or employers shall be registered as a Trade Union save with the approval of the Minister on his being satisfied that it is expedient to register the Union either by regrouping existing Trade Union. registering a new Trade Union or otherwise howsoever….
“In view of the above, I Senator (Dr.) Chris Nwabueze Ngige, in the exercise of the power conferred on me as the Honourable Minister of Labour & Employment, do hereby approve the registration of Congress of Nigeria University Academics (CONUA), and Nigeria Association of Medical & Dental Lecturers in Academics (NAMDA).
“These Associations will exist side by side with ASUU in the Nigerian Universities in the spirit and tenets of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Core Convention nos. 87 & 98 which are respectively on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining; as well as the enthronement”
The Minister said that public universities have been shut since February and students are still at home because of the strike action embarked on by ASUU, despite batches of negotiations to resolve the trade dispute by the Federal Government.
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