Dr ‘Niyi Sunmonu is the national president of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA). He shares, in this interview with Tunbosun Ogundare, insights into the position of CONUA on some pressing national issues touching the union and broader university education in the country. Excerpts:
We observe that your renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement with the Federal Government is still inconclusive after several months. How do you react to this?
The Federal Government and CONUA have held several meetings, and significant progress has been made. Areas of disagreement have been substantially narrowed. At this stage, we expect the government to, without further delay, append its signature to the agreement already reached. Doing so will restore confidence and contribute meaningfully to stability in our universities. I don’t want to talk more on this matter.
Salaries of university lecturers are delayed these days before payment. How does this affect your financial responsibilities?
It is a fact that since the (re)migration to the GIFMIS platform, salary payments have been consistently delayed, often until the 9th or 10th of a new month. This is demoralising and disruptive to personal and family responsibilities. The government needs to urgently address whatever structural or administrative issues are responsible. CONUA has consistently maintained that prompt and accurate payment of salaries and emoluments is more important than the choice of payment platform. So, as I had said, the government should address this issue with urgency.
But, there are concerns that the Federal Government may be finding a way to shift payment of salaries to respective universities to handle. What is your view on this and its sustainability?
I do not have sufficient information to confirm that position, and it would be premature to comment definitively. However, on the surface, I do not believe this is currently the case. If such a policy is indeed under consideration, it would raise serious sustainability concerns, especially given the financial realities of many universities. However, I reiterate that I have no confirmation that this is the case.
CONUA sometime ago accused ASUU’s leadership of misrepresenting the role played by the late Professor Biodun Jeyifo, in resolving the OAU-ASUU crisis, which eventually led to the formation of CONUA. Are you still holding on to your view?
May I first note that the late Comrade Professor Biodun Jeyifo continues to rest in peace. On the issue you raised, the truth cannot be buried indefinitely; it will always resurface. The facts surrounding Professor Jeyifo’s role are well documented. Our position remains unchanged: the narrative presented by the current leadership of our sister union, ASUU, did not fully reflect the truth of his efforts in resolving the crisis at the time.
ASUU, in an interview recently, told the Nigerian Tribune about its readiness to welcome CONUA members back into its fold if they choose to rejoin, as you had claimed that ASUU’s founding fathers didn’t establish the union for division but for the unity of lecturers. How do you respond to that?
That position can be described as ‘being clever by half.’ The same ASUU leadership is fully aware of the actions taken in the past, including the formal expulsion of members who eventually formed CONUA. These were not informal occurrences. They were documented and formally communicated. At this stage, the focus should be on mutual co-existence. This is not unusual; labour centres like the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) co-exist effectively, and similar plural arrangements can work within the university system, also. So, CONUA has come to stay by the grace of God.
What is your assessment of the government’s solar power intervention for universities under the Band ‘A’ tariff?
While advancements in solar energy are commendable, they cannot fully address the energy needs of universities, especially if we aim for global competitiveness. The intervention is helpful, but it will only address part of the electricity problem in the university system. CONUA, for example, had earlier proposed that universities should be granted a special energy status. Reliable and sustainable power supply remains critical to improving our global standing. We are using this medium to call on the Federal Government to do the electrification projects as promised in some pilot universities without delay.
If education is considered central to economic growth, why does Nigeria still struggles socio-economically, despite parading many scholars?
The major issue is the disconnection between the university system and the broader society. Our curricula must better integrate theory with practical application, in line with global best practices. Additionally, government must demonstrate confidence in local expertise by actively engaging and utilizing Nigerian scholars in national development initiatives. By these, things will get better.
What is the CONUA position on your three and a half months’ salaries withheld during the ASUU strike under the previous administration?
For CONUA, the withheld salaries cannot simply be written off. The government justified the withholding on the basis of strike action. However, our members neither declared nor participated in that strike. Therefore, their salaries should not have been withheld in the first place. This position is supported by relevant provisions of the Trade Disputes Act.
What are the three major priorities CONUA would want President Bola Tinubu to attend to?
First, the immediate payment of the withheld three and a half months’ salaries owed to our members. The second is the prompt signing and full implementation of the FGN-CONUA agreement, along with CONUA’s inclusion in the implementation monitoring framework. This will remove current uncertainties, address parity concerns, and support uninterrupted academic calendars, which CONUA strongly advocates. Third is institutional support for union pluralism to reduce marginalization and encourage healthy competition that ultimately strengthens the university system.
As a Nigerian, what do you think the government is not getting right?
There is a need to move away from a consumption-driven fiscal model heavily reliant on borrowing. This approach undermines long-term investments in infrastructure, health, education, and productivity. Security challenges also remain a major concern, as persistent insecurity continues to affect lives, economic growth, and investor confidence. Finally, education must be treated as a strategic national investment. If properly prioritized, it will produce graduates who are competitive and relevant in a 21st-century economy.