The suit filed by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) challenging the registration of the Congress Of University Academics (CONUA) and the Nigeria Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) as trade unions by the Federal Government has been dismissed by Justice Benedict Kanyip, the President of the National Industrial Court, Abuja.
In his judgment on Tuesday, Justice Kanyip held that Section 27 of the Trade Union Act doesn't depict trade monopoly, allowing for multiple trade unions in employment.
While further reiterating that Chris Ngige, the then Minister of Labour, and the registrar of Trade Union were in the right to register NAMDA and CONUA to co-exist with ASUU, the court also maintained ASUU failed to present any evidence before it to show the complete registration of CONUA and NAMDA when it filed the suit.
Additionally, instead of filing its case against the Nigeria Association of Medical and Dental Academics, ASUU filed against NAMDA as the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics, the court pointed out.
While dismissing the suit, Justice Kanyip further held as at when ASUU filed its suit, NAMDA was not in existence.
