The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has again expressed displeasure over its continued exclusion from the ongoing discussion between the Federal Government and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on various issues causing crises over the years in the nation’s public universities.
The union said the Federal Government made a big mistake by not extending an invitation to it to be part of the renegotiation committee but can still do so now since they are part of the university community and the issues to discuss are also concerning them.
The National President of the group, who is a senior lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, shared this thought and perspective with the Nigerian Tribune in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
He was asked for an update on the matter, describing the exclusion as dangerous.
CONUA is a break-away group from ASUU and registered as an independent union during the tenure of Dr Chris Ngige as a Minister of Labour and Employment.
Sunmonu recalled that the union had protested the development in writing and sent the letter to the new Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Chairman of the Renegotiation Committee, Yayale Mahmud Ahmed, over the exclusion.
“We also copied some relevant government organs and offices, including that of the Senate President, the Speaker, the House of Representatives, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Minister of Justice, as well as the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which is our mother’s union, with the letter. And we did all these to carry all of them along on our concerns,” he added, noting that. “Even as of yesterday (Monday), we have a confirmation that our letter was on the table of the SFG.
Sunmonu insisted that the failure of the government to bring representatives of CONUA to be part of the discussion does not only amount to shortchanging members but also shaving their heads in their absence.
“So as far as we are concerned, the committee won’t be able to resolve the lingering crisis wholistically if we as a section of the university community are excluded. There is a need for a larger and not one-sided perspective on the issue
“So, the government should do what is right, as there is still time to incorporate us,” he said.
While acknowledging that even though CONUA was not in existence in 2009 when the issues for discussion have been on, its existence as of today as an integral part of the university community and the fact that members of CONUA were part of ASUU then have automatically qualified the group to be part of the discussion since members will also be affected by any decision that comes up from the renegotiation committee.
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