The President of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, has attributed improvements in the ratings of Nigerian universities to the emergence of pluralism in academic unionism, which he said has helped reduce disruptions to academic calendars.
Sunmonu spoke on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television on Sunday, while reflecting on the impact of prolonged industrial actions on Nigeria’s university system and the role played by the emergence of CONUA.
According to him, the dominance of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in university unionism contributed to a situation where academics increasingly relied on the leadership of a single union to determine their positions on critical issues affecting the sector.
He argued that the emergence of CONUA provided an alternative platform for university academics and challenged what he described as the authoritarian tendencies that had characterised academic unionism.
‘The way our sister union [ASUU] behaved … in fact they’ve turned themselves into a government. And, sadly, academics have also outsourced our thinking to these people in the leadership of the other union,’ Sunmonu said.
He explained that the concerns surrounding ASUU’s approach to unionism were among the factors that contributed to the establishment of CONUA, stressing that the new union was founded on the principle of allowing academics to exercise independent judgment.
‘That is part of what brought about the birth of CONUA. Not only that, that is what CONUA represents,’ he said.
Sunmonu maintained that the absence of alternative voices within academic unionism could limit progress in the university system, particularly when members are expected to follow decisions taken by a central leadership without sufficient room for independent positions.
‘Where everybody sleeps and face the same directions or in situations where you outsource your thinking to so-called powers somewhere, you have no progress that can be achieved,’ he said.
He further criticised what he described as the ‘arrogance’ and ‘dictatorship’ that had emerged within the leadership of the other union, arguing that this contributed to repeated disruptions of academic activities.
‘We can say that has been the lot of our universities since the other union degenerated in this toga of arrogance, dictatorship and what have you,’ Sunmonu said.
The CONUA president said the introduction of pluralism into academic unionism had coincided with improvements in the performance and ratings of Nigerian universities.
‘Since we have pluralism in academic unionism, the ratings in the universities have gone up. It’s due to nothing other than uninterrupted calendar,’ he said.
According to him, the continuity of academic programmes is critical to improving the quality and reputation of Nigerian universities because students and lecturers are able to operate within predictable academic schedules.
He argued that frequent strikes undermine universities by interrupting teaching, research and examinations, while also extending the period students spend pursuing their degrees.
Sunmonu said it was contradictory for any organisation to claim to be defending the interests of the university system while simultaneously taking actions that disrupt its operations.
‘You can’t claim to fight for a system on the one hand and by the other token, you destroy the system,’ he said.
His comments come amid longstanding debates over the best approach to resolving disputes between university-based unions and the Federal Government.
ASUU has historically relied on industrial action as a major bargaining tool in disputes over funding, staff welfare, university autonomy and the implementation of agreements reached with successive governments.
CONUA, which emerged as a separate academic union, has consistently advocated alternative approaches to addressing challenges in the university system while opposing prolonged disruptions to academic activities.
Sunmonu’s position suggests that competition and plurality among academic unions could provide university workers with different platforms for representation while reducing the possibility of nationwide academic disruptions when disputes arise.
He also linked the stability of academic calendars to the broader perception and competitiveness of Nigerian universities, arguing that uninterrupted academic sessions allow institutions to improve their standing and give students greater certainty over their education.
For Nigerian universities, the issue goes beyond union rivalry, as repeated interruptions have broader consequences for students, parents, lecturers and the country’s education system. Delayed academic calendars can affect graduation timelines, admissions cycles, research programmes and the ability of Nigerian institutions to compete internationally.
Sunmonu’s argument, therefore, is that protecting the university system should include protecting the continuity of academic activities, even when university workers have legitimate grievances that require government attention.
The CONUA president maintained that academic unionism should serve as a mechanism for improving universities rather than becoming a source of repeated disruption, stressing that different perspectives within the sector could ultimately produce better outcomes for Nigerian higher education.