The 41-year-old Academic Staff Union of Universities has split with the formation of a new union, the Congress of University Academics. Lecturers from five universities in the country announced the formation of CONUA in Ile-Ife on Saturday.
The lecturers, who unveiled the new union, were from the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State; Kwara State University, Malete; Ambrose Ali University Expoma, Edo State; Federal University, Oye-Ekiti and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
But ASUU President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, in an interview with Punch said the union was not aware of any splinter group. Ogunyemi said some vice-chancellors, who were rebuked for high-handedness, were encouraging members of the union in their institutions to rebel.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education said it had no hand in the formation or running of any parallel union under the ministry. The Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Ben Goong, said this in an interview with Punch.
He said, “That matter about a new union has not come to the ministry yet. But the fundamental principle is that the ministry does not have any hand and will not have any hand in the formation and running of any union.
“On the issue of whether we will recognize it; everyone has a right to form a union. The recognition by the ministry is immaterial. But like I said, this is coming to us for the first time. When it comes to us officially, the ministry will look at that administratively and deal with it.”
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