Labour unions can be described as workers in the same field of study (professionals) or workers in an organization (employee) who come together to form a body with the aim of fighting for and protecting their right.
In Nigeria, we have millions of workers who have unified themselves to form a strong force to demand their right from the government. All the unions are grouped together at the apex by three main bodies namely Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and United Labour Congress (ULC)
The labour unions in Nigeria are so organised to the extent that there is likely nobody working as an employee that is not protected. There are some bodies that have also made themselves relevant due to how essential they are. For example: the medical doctors, Academic staff of university union (ASUU) and a crop of others.
The union employ different approaches to press through their demand from federal government or companies starting with negotiation, strike warning, and finally indefinite strike. Each of the union has a constitution guiding their conducts and they make use of conditions of service, international labour laws and host of other related laws of the land to claim their rights.
The origin of labour union is as far back as early century. The most common related one is when those in the middle class in Britain could not meet up with the rich class, they decided to come together to contribute money so that they can buy those luxuries needed in turns. To achieve an aim, it need some sacrifice and commitment. To get the government to dance to your tune needs some administrative procedure which requires financial support. Academic Staff Union of Research Institute (ASURI) steams out of a concern for researchers in Nigeria by its visionary Dr. TCN Ndubuaku.
Before now, the researchers were part of ASUU. (Academic Staff Union of University) they were called (ASUU-RI) they were subjected to the lowest ebb of actualising the essence of63 their creation by the federal government. This is because they were created with a mandate unlike in the university where you can decide to carry out research on any area of interest. A researcher in a research institute or affiliated colleges with a mandate carries out research based on the mandate that establishes its creation. All thanks be to God who stir up the drive in the visionary who navigated every constituted authority to salvage all the researchers from the menace of ASUU to what it is now known today as ASURI.
It comprises of all the researchers in Nigeria and it cut across twelve ministries. Some are into crop research like CRIN, some are into engineering like NASENI, some are into forest research like FRIN, some are into fresh water research like NIFFRI, some are into wild life research like FCWN some are even into social research like NISER, and so many others.
It was registered under Trade Union Act Cap 437 Of 1990 with its registered office at O/C Cocoa Research Institute Of Nigeria, Idi Ayunre Ibadan Nigeria
The union on the bid to achieve its aim raise finance by tasking themselves. Some levy themselves so that they can have a strong treasury to fund all what they desire. Some contribute a percentage of their monthly income. In ASURI, every researcher is expected to contribute N1000 or 2% of its monthly income whichever is greater.
The Government of the union shall be vested in the following: