The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has advised the Federal Government to register as many academic groups as possible.
ASUU president, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, gave the charge while reacting to the perceived attempt by the Federal Government to break the union’s rank by recognizing factional groups.
Earlier on Tuesday, October 4, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, presented certificates to the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), and the Congress of Nigerian Universities Academics (CONUA) in Abuja.
According to Ngige, both unions will exist side by side with ASUU and enjoy the same privileges as Osodeke’s group.
Reacting to this development, Osodeke said the other groups do not pose a threat to ASUU’s existence.
“That does not in any way affect us,” Osodeke announced in an interview with Vanguard. “We are a disciplined and focused union, and we know what we are doing and what we are after. Let them register as many unions as they like. That is inconsequential as far as we are concerned. We are not also in any way threatened. The sky is big enough for birds to fly.
“We know our members; we know our strength and we also know what our vision and mission are. Our members are not saboteurs or bootlickers. Our struggle is for a better educational system in the country. If the system is good, all of us will benefit and it is not only ASUU members’ children and wards that are going to benefit from improved funding and the provision of better facilities in our institutions,” he added.
ASUU had declared an indefinite strike across all public institutions in Nigeria over the government’s failure to meet its 2009 agreement.
