THE ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES (ASUU) HAS REACTED TO THE REGISTRATION OF TWO NEW TERTIARY EDUCATION UNIONS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IN A CHAT WITH NEWSMEN YESTERDAY, NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF ASUU, PROFESSOR EMMANUEL OSODEKE, SAID THE ACTION WAS INCONSEQUENTIAL TO THE UNION, ADDING THAT THE ACTION DOES NOT POSE ANY THREAT TO ITS EXISTENCE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD EARLIER YESTERDAY REGISTERED THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL AND DENTAL ACADEMICS (NAMDA) AND THE CONGRESS OF NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY ACADEMICS (CONUA).

THE MINISTER OF LABOUR AND PRODUCTIVITY, DOCTOR CHRIS NGIGE, EXPLAINED THAT THE TWO BODIES WILL EXIST ALONGSIDE ASUU, SAYING THE TWO ASSOCIATIONS WILL ENJOY THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES ACCORDED TO OTHER ACADEMIC UNIONS IN THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SYSTEM.

IT IS HOWEVER NOT CLEAR, WHAT THE IMPLICATION OF RECOGNISING THE BODIES WILL BE ON THE SEVEN MONTH-LONG INDUSTRIAL ACTION EMBARKED UPON BY ASUU.