The Federal Government has said following the registration of two new unions, it would direct Vice-Chancellors of federal universities to reopen their institutions.
The unions are the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), a breakaway faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).
CONUA is led by Niyi Sunmonu, a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, while NAMDA is headed by Nosa Irhue.
The Labour and Employment Minister, Chris Ngige, presented letters of approval to the leaderships of CONUA and NAMDA in Abuja.
He said with the development, students who have been at home since February 14, when ASUU began its ongoing strike can now return to the classrooms.
However, he was silent on when the resumption would commence.
When contacted by reporters on the registration of CONUA, ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke said: “It is not worth my reaction.”
Ngige defended the registration, saying that CONUA and NAMDA can now co-exist with ASUU in the university system.
His words: “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 Minister of Labour and Employment powers to regroup an existing Trade Union of Workers or Employers.”
