The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has lost its bid to stop the recognition of its rival unions, the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), as trade unions in Nigerian universities.

The National Industrial Court in its ruling on the suit between the Federal Government and ASUU affirmed that CONUA and NAMDA are duly registered as trade unions and have the right to operate on Nigerian campuses.

Justice Benedict Kanyip held that in line with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Act, there could be more than one trade union within employment, and Section 3(2) of the Trade Union Act does not permit the monopoly of trade unions