By LALEYE DIPO

The plan by secondary school teachers to float a different organisation from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) may have hit the rocks following the rejection of the plan by both the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Niger State Government.

In separate statements, the Federal Ministry of Labour and the Niger State Government disowned the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools of Nigeria (ASUSS).

ASUSS had written to the Federal Ministry of Labour and the Niger State Government intimating them of the plan by members of the union to proceed on an indefinite strike in Niger State just as the state wing of the NUT had done.

In their separate replies to ASUSS, the body was told that it is not a recognised trade union and has no right to organise its members along the line of trade unionism.

The letter by the Federal Ministry of Labour dated May 6, 2021with reference number NG.lb/108/Vol 137 signed by YB Inuwa, Controller read in part: “Further to the above may I draw your attention to my letter ref no.NG.l/108/Vol1/37 informing you that ASUSS is not a registered and recognized Trade Union and has no right to organize its members along the line of Trade Unionism”

On its part, the Niger State Government said in a letter to ASUSS Niger State chapter dated May 7, 2021 and signed by Yunusa D Tanimu, Permanent Secretary (Establishment) for the Head of Service read in part: “I am also to inform you that from available evidence to the government, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools of Nigeria is not legally recognised as a trade union by the relevant bodies.

“In view of the above and in the interest of peace, you are advised to caution your members from parading themselves as union members while you are advised to take necessary step to get your association registered by the appropriate authorities.”

However, THISDAY observed that ASUSS had joined the NUT in the statewide strike which entered its second week Tuesday.

ASUSS had been engaged in a long drawn battle to disengage from the NUT with the case becoming a legal matter which had reached the Supreme Court.

All efforts to get officials of ASUSS for their reaction to the latest development were abortive. (THISDAY)

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