FG Splits Teaching Hospitals Union

The Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospital, Research Institution and Associated Institutions Union (SSAUTHRIAI), has  been split into two industrial unions following the acceptance and registration of a new union,Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education Nigeria (SSUCOEN) by the Registrar of the Trade Unions, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

The Tide investigation revealed that the leadership of SSAUTHRIANI, failed to raise any objection to the registration of the splinter union before the Registrar of the Trade Unions.

A source within the State chapter of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) told The Tide that the new union, SSUCOEN has discreetly applied to join the union as industrial union of Senior Staff working with the various universities or Colleges of Education  in Nigeria.

The source said “we are happy for the new registration of SSUCOEN and the preparedness of  the union leaders to promote and champion the cause of the workers for their overall benefits and welfare”.

When The Tide visited   Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, main campus, some senior staff who pleaded  anonymity said the new union was only for senior staff of non academic cadre.

They said, they were happy for the union being registered to protect their interest unlike SSAUTHRIAI which they said was  always confrontational and on strike.

The source said, the new union was a union of responsible Nigerians who are out to protect the interest of its members, seek meaningful path of dialogue with the authorities concerned  not necessarily being  willing to call members out for strike without exhausting avenues of dialogue and negotiations”.

The Tide investigation also revealed that SSAUTHRIAI  had challenged the registration of the new union before the National Industrial Court, but the case was struck out by the court on the grounds that SSAUTHRIAI failed to file objection within three months of the notice of the registration of the new trade union as stipulated by law.

The National Industrial Court had held that SSAUTHRIAI failed to raise any objection to the notice of registration of SSUCOEN on time until after the union had been registered in accordance with the provisions of the trade union Act.

It would be recalled that SSAUTHRIAI was a union for all senior staff of all the tertiary institutions in the country before the registration of the new union, SSUCOEN.

Philip Okparaji