We’re not on strike — CONUA

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has declared that its members are at work and not on strike action like the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU,) which has directed members nationwide to commence a 15-day warning strike beginning on Monday.

CONUA is a breakaway union from ASUU and was registered by the Federal Government as an independent body during Dr Chris Ngige’s tenure as the Minister of Labour and Employment.

The National President of the union, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, a faculty member of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, gave the hint on Sunday night in a statement to clarify CONUA’s stance on the declared strike action by ASUU.

According to him, there is a need to clarify the misinformation circulating across some platforms, which has created unnecessary confusion within the university community and among students; hence, this clarification to set the record straight.

Sunmonu emphasised that CONUA remains deeply committed to academic stability, excellence, and the smooth functioning of Nigeria’s universities through constructive dialogue and peaceful engagement with government and all stakeholders.

So, members, he noted, are urged to continue performing their academic and administrative duties diligently – to report to work, engage with students, and carry out their professional responsibilities as expected.

He said, “Your steadfastness and integrity remain vital to sustaining standards in our higher education system.

“Thus, it is important to emphasise that CONUA has no basis at this time to declare a dispute or embark on any strike action.”

He explained what transpired recently between the union and the Federal Government on the long-running contextual issues that have defied a permanent solution all these years, saying, “When the renegotiation committee of the 2009 Agreement was inaugurated in October 2024, CONUA was conspicuously and deliberately omitted.

“And the union formally protested this exclusion, which eventually culminated in a meeting with the Minister of Education on 11 September 2025.

“At that meeting, the minister acknowledged CONUA’s concerns and assured that the Yayale Ahmed Renegotiation Committee would be expanded to include all the academic unions in Nigeria’s federal tertiary institutions.

“We are pleased to note that the Ministry of Education has recently expanded the committee, fulfilling that promise.

“Until CONUA is formally brought to the table and any of the issues it has presented to the Federal Government become subjects of dispute, there is no foundation whatsoever for any strike action by CONUA.

“Our resolutions from nationwide congresses following the 11 September meeting, the national leadership reported the outcome to members across universities, after which congresses were held between 18 and 24 September 2025.

“At these congresses, members unanimously reaffirmed CONUA’s principled stance that no strike action should be taken and that engagement, not disruption, remains the best path forward for the Nigerian university system.

“Based on this, we respectfully call on Vice Chancellors to ensure the safety and protection of CONUA members as they continue their legitimate duties within their respective institutions.

“We equally encourage students to remain focused on their academic pursuits without fear of interruption.

“The union stands by its commitment to quality education, national development, and peaceful industrial relations in the university system.

“Similarly, CONUA’s unwavering focus is on building a sustainable, innovative, and productive academic environment that serves the interests of students, scholars and the nation.

“And we appreciate the understanding and cooperation of all stakeholders in supporting this constructive approach to advancing higher education in Nigeria.”

Tribune Online reports that the Federal Government has threatened to invoke a work, no pay policy on ASUU members and such consequences will likely affect CONUA members if they remain quiet about the side they belong to in the ASUU strike.

The last nationwide industrial action by ASUU, which lasted seven and a half months, resulted in the government withholding the salaries of all the academic staff of federal universities, including CONUA members, for that period, but later released four months’ salaries while the rest are not released to date.

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