The Congress of University Academics, CONUA, has called on President Bola Tinubu to order the payment of their three and a half months of withheld salaries, as well as four months of third-party deductions that have not been remitted to the appropriate quarters.

CONUA, in a statement by Dr Folasade Hunsu, the Chairperson, CONUA Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, and who is also the Southwest Zonal Coordinator, noted that financially challenged and dispirited workers cannot be expected to fully engage in the task of teaching, research, and community engagement that are the mandate of lecturers.

It frowned at the attitude of the federal government not obeying the ruling of the court that emphasised CONUA as an independent academic staff union in the university system.

It reiterated its position that it was never part of the strike called by another academic union and wondered why it was lumped together for punishment for an offence it did not commit.

“CONUA notes with consternation that the third-party deductions (cooperatives, etc.) were not paid and have not been paid to date! Efforts on the part of the union to trace the third-party deductions have proven unsuccessful. The union calls on the federal government to direct the payment of these deductions to the appropriate quarters without further delay.

“Our union, CONUA, has consistently maintained that it never declared and was not part of any strike action. What the government did was to lump together those who embarked on a strike with those who did not! This is against the judgment of 25 July, 2023, at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), which affirmed CONUA as an independent union.

“Since CONUA neither called for nor joined any strike, withholding the three-and-a-half months’ salaries of members of the union contravenes Section 43 (1b) of the Trade Disputes Act CAP. T8, which states that “where any employer locks out his workers, the workers shall be entitled to wages and any other applicable remuneration for the period of the lockout, and the period of the lockout shall not prejudicially affect any rights of the workers being rights dependent on the continuity of the period of employment.’” This provision is consistent with global best practices. In conclusion, CONUA demands that the process of paying these outstanding months be kick-started immediately to ensure lasting peace in the Ivory towers.

The union further explained the steps it has taken so far to get the appropriate authorities to look into its claims. “CONUA wrote the Honourable Minister of Education at different times to officially complain about the three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries and the need to make the payment to CONUA members for the aforementioned reasons. The union received a letter dated 20th May 2024, wherein CONUA was advised to reroute its request to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. It stated further that “the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment is vested with the mandate to verify all work claimed to be done during the period of industrial action.”

“The union thereafter initiated an official communication with the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment in a letter titled “Three and a half months’ withheld salary” dated 28th June 2024. The union got a response that reads, “…and to inform you that the content therein is noted.”

“It then appears to the union that the FG is not willing to yield to the rulings of the court that affirmed the independence of CONUA as a union and is also not willing to obey the Trade Dispute Act CAP. T8.

“CONUA is therefore calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) to expedite intervention in this regard so as to avert industrial crises in the universities.

“Financially debilitated, psychologically challenged, and dispirited lecturers cannot be expected to sustainably engage in the mentally tasking and physically exhausting tasks of teaching, research, and community service, which constitute the mandate of academics. This point is particularly critical in light of the unprecedented developmental challenges, which are being created and will be created by the innovative measures that are being put in place by the President Bola Tinubu administration.

“CONUA is also demanding to be invited to the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, having affirmed its right to be involved in the process. On the 15th of October 2024, CONUA was conspicuously excluded when the Federal Ministry of Education inaugurated a 53-member committee to renegotiate the 2009 agreement. In this regard, several letters have been written, and the last one, a response to the communication received from the Honourable Minister and dated 4th December 2024, was dated 6th December 2024, wherein some justifications were advanced for requesting the inclusion of CONUA in the renegotiation committee.” (Vanguard)