The Federal Government has pleaded with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC to withdraw its opposition to the registration of two new academic unions in the public university system.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige made the appeal in a statement by Head, Press and Public Relations, in the ministry Olajide Oshundun in Abuja. The new unions are the Congress for Nigerian University Academics, CONUA and the Nigeria Association of Medical and Dental Academics, NAMDA.
However, Ngige in a letter to the NLC President Ayuba Wabba, called for the withdrawal of the letters issued to the unions, is on the grounds that their registration breached the laws guiding trade unionism.
The Minister had however appealed to the organised labour to allow the new unions to exist in the spirit of Freedom of Association.
Ngige also insisted that the Trade Dispute Act 2004 gives him the sole power to register new trade unions, either by registering a new union or regrouping existing ones.
