The Federal government, on Tuesday, issued certificates of recognition to two breakaway unions of Nigerian university lecturers and medical doctors – the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).
CONUA emerged from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) while NAMDA is a breakaway group from the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
ASUU and NARD had embarked on series of strikes in recent years over disputes with the government, a development which is believed to have prompted the Federal Government to register the two breakaway unions.
At the ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, warned members of CONUA and NAMDA against going on strike, noting that they would not be paid salaries if they embark on industrial action.
Ngige further stressed that the registration of the two unions followed due process as the Ministry received no letter from any existing union rejecting the registration of CONUA and NAMDA.
Presenting the unions with copies of their certificates of registration, he also enjoined them to fully operate as trade unions in the education sector.
The minister warned CONUA and NAMDA not to shut down Nigeria’s tertiary education like ASUU did by embarking on an indefinite strike.