Falana says ASUU is united despite Abuja’s distractions
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Femi Falana SAN, has argued the registration of splinter academic unions by Labour Minister Chris Ngige will not disorientate or scatter the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on strike for nine months running.
Ngige on Tuesday presented the certificates of registration to the two new academic unions and ordered them to return to the classroom – without meeting the demands of ASUU which also affect lecturers in the new unions.
He said the two unions, the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), have declared their rejection of the modus operandi of ASUU.
But Falana, counsel to ASUU, countered on Arise TV on Wednesday by declaring the registration as illegal and a desperate measure by Abuja to break the strike.
He reiterated ASUU is in the forefront of sanitising tertiary education requesting for resources to equip universities.
“Government has tried various measures but the latest one is perhaps going to embarrass the government because it is an illegal exercise and won’t work. ASUU is today one of the most organised and united trade unions in Africa,” he said.
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Registration of rival unions breaks the law
“Under the current Labour Law regime in Nigeria, you cannot have two unions or three unions in the same sector,” Falana explained, according to Vanguard.
“In other words, within the academia in Nigeria, there can only be one registered trade union that is the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) registered pursuant to the Trade Union Act as amended.”
“We are going to have a mushrooming of trade unions, which threatens industrial peace in the country. We cannot have two unions in the university nor can we have two unions in other [sectors] in the country. Politically it won’t work.”
He advised the government to return to the negotiating table and seek and follow proper advice so as not expose Nigeria to global ridicule.