The Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), a split off from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), will receive a certificate of recognition from the labour ministry on Tuesday in President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime-sponsored effort to force striking university lecturers across the country to call off their months-long strike.

The certificate presentation will happen at the federal secretariat in Abuja, according to a statement posted by the ministry. 

“The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Nigige, cordially invites you to the recognition and presentation of certificate of registration to the Congress of Nigerian University of Academics (CONUA),” said the statement. “Your media organisation is invited to cover the event strictly by invitation.” 

Following registration, the CONUA, headed by Niyi Sunmonu, a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, would represent Nigerian academics in discussions with the Buhari regime as a full-fledged labour union. 

As opposed to ASUU, members of the new union are more likely to achieve an agreement with the regime.

However, ASUU, representing the lecturers for more than four decades, retained a vast majority of the membership and insisted that it would not return to work until the Buhari regime meet its demands.