The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has distanced itself from the ongoing ASUU strike, directing its members to remain in classrooms and continue academic activities, in a move that underscores the division within the university academic unions.
Niyi Sunmonu, CONUA’s president, in a statement, dismissed reports that have been suggesting its involvement in the ongoing strike.
He said the union is committed to maintaining academic stability through constructive dialogue and peaceful engagement with the government and other stakeholders.
“It is important to emphasise that CONUA has no basis at this time to declare a dispute or embark on any strike action,” Sunmonu said.
Sunmonu advised members to continue with their academic and administrative duties as expected.
The statement highlighted CONUA’s formal protest following its initial exclusion from the renegotiation committee of the 2009 agreement between academic staff and the federal government, which was inaugurated in October 2024.
“The union formally protested this exclusion, which eventually culminated in a meeting with the minister of education on 11 September 2025.
We are pleased to note that the Ministry of Education has recently expanded the committee, fulfilling that promise. Until CONUA is formally brought to the table and any of the issues it has presented to the federal government becomes the subject of dispute, there is no foundation whatsoever for any strike action by CONUA.
“Resolutions from nationwide congresses following the September 11 meeting, the national leadership reported the outcome to members across universities, after which congresses were held between September 18 and 24, 2025,” the statement read.
Additionally, the statement states, “At these congresses, members unanimously reaffirmed CONUA’s principled stance that no strike action should be taken and that engagement, not disruption, remains the best path forward for the Nigerian university system.”
Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declared a two-week warning strike from October 13, citing years of unmet demands.
And in the face of the impasse, the federal government accused ASUU of remaining uncooperative despite negotiation efforts and pleas to resolve the matter.
Besides, the Ministry of Education threatened to invoke a “no work, no pay” policy, insisting that dialogue remains the most effective way to resolve disagreements.
