By Gami Tadanyigbe
The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has called on the Federal Government to expedite the conclusion of the proposed FGN-CONUA Agreement and immediately settle all outstanding entitlements owed to academics.
The demands were made following the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union held at the University of Abuja. In a press release jointly issued by the national leadership, CONUA addressed pressing concerns regarding academic welfare, university governance, infrastructure, and national security.
CONUA condemned the delays in finalizing the proposed FGN-CONUA Agreement (dated September 2026), stressing that official recognition must translate into meaningful collective bargaining. While maintaining its preference for dialogue, the union warned that it reserves the right to pursue lawful trade union actions if negotiations stall further.
The union also pressed for the immediate payment of verified outstanding financial obligations, which include three and a half months of withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and unpaid balances from the 25% and 35% wage awards. However, CONUA acknowledged and commended the government’s resolution of prior pension-entitlement challenges.
The varsity union also criticized the exclusion of its members from critical education-related administrative structures, such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and NEEDS Assessment programs, demanding fairer institutional representation.
They also expressed concern over the state of public tertiary education, the union called for sustainable investments in digital transformation, reliable power, and modern laboratory infrastructure. It also cautioned university managements and regulators against superficial practices—such as renting staff or equipment—during accreditation exercises.
The union also underscored the necessity of a free, fair, and credible electoral process, urging politicians to run issue-based campaigns. The union also expressed deep concern over ongoing security challenges across the country, urging the government to strengthen intelligence gathering and protect vulnerable communities.
It also reaffirmed its dedication to principled academic unionism, emphasizing that industrial harmony depends on mutual respect, credible agreements, and the fulfillment of legitimate obligations. The union vowed to continue defending its members’ interests through constructive engagement and all lawful, constitutionally guaranteed channels.