By Adamu Yusuf
The Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), University of Abuja Chapter, has held its maiden Seminar Series, focusing on the future of academic unionism and labour relations within Nigeria’s university system.
The communiqué was signed by the Chairman of the Seminar Series and Chairman of CONUA, University of Abuja Chapter, Professor Issa Abdulraheem.
The seminar, themed “Creating a Virile Union — Leveraging Influence in an Academic Environment,” held at the Seminar Room of the Samuel Ogbemudia Library Complex, University of Abuja.
It brought together academic leaders, policy experts, government representatives and communication scholars to deliberate on academic union governance, staff welfare policies, institutional administration, communication strategies and collaborative labour relations.
Presentations at the seminar examined issues bordering on government–union engagement, welfare policy implementation, communication psychology, propaganda dynamics and sustainable institutional development.
Participants observed that academic unionism remains a critical instrument for protecting staff welfare and promoting institutional stability, stressing that engagement-driven and evidence-based unionism is more sustainable than confrontational approaches.
The seminar noted that welfare gains arising from government union agreements are implemented through government payroll systems and therefore require transparent communication to prevent misunderstanding.
It also identified narrative distortion and selective information framing as major challenges in labour relations.
CONUA affirmed constructive engagement and uninterrupted academic calendars as the preferred pathway for resolving labour issues, while recommending transparent publication of agreements and standardized implementation circulars.
The union further urged the government to ensure non discriminatory implementation of welfare policies across all eligible academic staff and called on academic unions to adopt professional, evidence based communication standards.
Universities were also advised to strengthen joint consultative platforms with unions to enhance dialogue and mutual understanding.
CONUA pledged to expand research-based union advocacy, sustain academic policy seminars and stakeholder engagement, strengthen welfare monitoring and promote progressive, reform-oriented academic unionism.
The seminar concluded that the future of academic unionism in Nigeria must be anchored on transparency, collaboration, policy literacy and strong institutional partnerships.
