Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, CONUA National President
The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has called on the federal government to expedite the payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears, and welfare entitlements for its members.
CONUA National President, Niyi Sunmonu, welcomed the recent commencement of third-party deduction payments, describing it as a step towards rebuilding trust in government–union relations. However, he said the approved ₦2.3 billion for promotion arrears remains insufficient, noting that funds fall short of clearing the full backlog at some universities.
The union also condemned the continued withholding of three-and-a-half months’ salaries, stating that no strike action was called by CONUA and that the withholding violates both the Trade Disputes Act and a 2023 National Industrial Court ruling recognising CONUA as an independent union.
Sunmonu warned that poor remuneration, unfavourable working conditions, and low recruitment into academia threaten Nigeria’s university system, with potential collapse within the next decade.
The statement called for pay structures that reflect socio-economic realities and meet at least the African continental average. CONUA reiterated its commitment to constructive engagement, urging the government to address all outstanding entitlements to stabilise the higher education sector.
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