The Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) has said it is not in reconciliation talks with the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The President of CONUA, Niyi Sunmonu, said this in a statement on Tuesday.
He was reacting to a statement on Monday by the Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Oye, Ekiti state, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, who said some elders in academics were working to unite the ASUU and its breakaway faction, CONUA.
Speaking on Monday at a conference in Ede, Osun State, the FUOYE VC had said those rejoicing over the division in the rank of academic staff members of universities in the country would soon be disappointed.
“As a family, we don’t need to destroy ourselves. A situation whereby because somebody did not listen to your opinion, you want to fight that person, you don’t need to do that,” Fasina had said.
But reacting on Tuesday, the CONUA president said there was no such reconciliation move between CONUA and ASUU.
He said, “The attention of CONUA leadership has been brought to a news report titled ‘VC says ASUU, CONUA reconciliation ongoing’ and credited to the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti.
“Since this news was reported, other news outlets have been reaching out to the leadership of CONUA on the truthfulness or otherwise of the information.
“Members of the public should note that CONUA doesn’t have anything to do with this. It’s just the opinion of the vice-chancellor. The hierarchy of our union is not in any way involved in this conversation. We are focused on nurturing and building CONUA. As you know, CONUA’s affiliation with the Trade Union Congress was just announced. We are marching forward and no going back.”