The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has warned that it may resort to lawful trade union action if the Federal Government fails to conclude its proposed agreement with the union and resolve outstanding welfare issues affecting its members.
National President of CONUA, Dr ’Niyi Sunmonu, issued the warning after the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Abuja, where members reviewed the latest draft of the proposed Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)-CONUA Agreement dated September 2026.
Sunmonu said government’s recognition of CONUA must go beyond formal registration and translate into meaningful collective bargaining and a concluded agreement capable of effectively protecting the interests of university academics.
“The recognition of a trade union must translate into meaningful collective bargaining and a concluded agreement that provides an effective framework for representing its members,” he said.
CONUA urged the Federal Ministries of Education and Labour and Employment, as well as other relevant negotiating authorities, to conclude the agreement without further delay, warning that prolonged negotiations could undermine industrial harmony across universities and inter-university centres.
The union also demanded the immediate settlement of outstanding financial obligations to its members, including three and a half months of withheld salaries, promotion arrears, irregular payments of recently approved entitlements and arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage awards.
CONUA has repeatedly maintained that its members should not have been affected by salary deductions arising from the 2022 Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike because they did not participate in the industrial action.
The union’s position is that its members continued working until university authorities shut the institutions.
Sunmonu called on government authorities and university managements to maintain transparent payment records, ensure timely settlement of entitlements and provide clear communication to affected academics.
“The welfare and legitimate entitlements of academics are obligations to be honoured, not favours to be granted,” he said.
Beyond welfare and collective bargaining, CONUA demanded fair representation for its members in university education programmes and consultative structures, particularly those linked to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and NEEDS Assessment.
Sunmonu said excluding recognised academics from important decision-making structures in the university system undermined fairness and institutional accountability.
He added that CONUA would pursue the issue through administrative and, where necessary, lawful channels.
The union also called for sustained public investment in university education, citing the need for reliable electricity, internet connectivity, functional laboratories, modern equipment and digital infrastructure to support teaching, learning and research.
It further raised concerns about reported practices in which academic staff and equipment are temporarily hired or rented for accreditation exercises.
Sunmonu said accreditation should reflect the genuine and sustainable capacity of universities to deliver their programmes rather than temporary arrangements designed to meet regulatory requirements.
CONUA therefore urged university managements and regulatory authorities to address institutional deficiencies transparently and focus on building sustainable academic capacity.
The union said lasting industrial harmony in the university system could only be achieved through fairness, mutual respect, credible collective agreements and fulfilment of legitimate obligations by government, university managements and recognised unions.
Supporting CONUA’s position, Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nuhu Toro, said the union would not be left to fight its battles alone.
Toro described the struggle for improved conditions for academics and better funding of universities as part of the broader Nigerian working-class struggle.
He said collective bargaining agreements were not political favours or administrative conveniences but binding commitments that should be respected and implemented in accordance with the law.
According to him, persistent underfunding of universities, neglect of academics and disregard for collective bargaining would weaken the foundation of Nigeria’s development.
Toro warned that the TUC would not tolerate unnecessary delays by university authorities or government agencies in concluding and signing the collective agreement with CONUA.
He reaffirmed the support of the TUC, under President Festus Osifo, and its affiliates for CONUA in defending the rights and interests of its members.
“Any attack on CONUA is an attack on the entire Nigerian labour movement. We shall deploy all legitimate means to protect workers’ rights. An injury to CONUA is an injury to all TUC affiliates and Nigerian workers,” Toro said.
CONUA has previously advocated a non-adversarial approach to industrial relations, while maintaining that it would consider judicial or other lawful intervention when necessary to resolve disputes.
