The Federal Government has announced the immediate enforcement of its “No Work, No Pay” policy following the declaration of a two-week warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which began at midnight on Sunday.
Speaking on Sunday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the federal government had fulfilled nearly all the union’s demands, accusing ASUU of insincerity and disregard for students’ education despite the government’s efforts.
Alausa explained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had made significant moves to improve the welfare, salaries, and working conditions of university lecturers.
“All the low-hanging fruits that border on academic allowances and arrears, we have paid. We have mainstreamed it into their salary. We have finalised their promotion arrears. From their next budget, we won’t owe them any promotion arrears.
All their post-graduate supervision and research allowances have been directed to be paid,” he stated.
The minister added that the President had approved a robust teaching allowance scheme to enhance the welfare of lecturers but said ASUU had failed to reciprocate the government’s goodwill.
“The federal government is doing everything possible to keep students in school, but ASUU seems determined to do the opposite. We will not allow them to destroy the education of our children. Therefore, we will immediately implement the ‘No Work, No Pay’ rule,” he said.
In a separate statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, Folasade Boriowo, the government urged ASUU to reconsider its strike decision, stressing that constructive dialogue remains the best approach to resolving all outstanding issues.
A joint statement by Dr. Alausa and Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, noted that the government had made a comprehensive offer to ASUU and was still awaiting the union’s formal response.
The statement explained that the offer covers all major areas of concern, including conditions of service, institutional governance, and staff welfare.
“All matters relating to the review of conditions of service have been duly addressed, except those under university governing councils, which are being handled. The government remains committed to engaging ASUU once their official response is received,” the ministers said.
They also reaffirmed Tinubu’s administration’s dedication to lecturers’ welfare and the stability of the university system, insisting that ASUU’s continued strike posture undermines the government’s reforms in the education sector.
The ministers further clarified that some issues raised by ASUU, such as promotions and internal governance, fall under the jurisdiction of university governing councils, not the federal government.
They also reminded the union that the “No Work, No Pay” policy is a valid provision of Nigerian labour law and would be fully enforced if the strike continues.
“While the government remains open to dialogue, it will also uphold existing laws to protect the integrity of the education system,” the statement warned.
The government reassured Nigerians of its readiness to engage with ASUU and other education stakeholders to ensure academic stability and improved welfare for lecturers.
Meanwhile, ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, confirmed the union’s decision to commence the two-week warning strike, describing it as “total and comprehensive.”
“This two-week warning strike should be taken as a window for the government to address our demands. If they don’t, we will take an action that will be different from this one,” Piwuna said.
He accused the government of insincerity, noting that despite earlier engagements, no substantial progress had been made. ASUU had issued a 14-day ultimatum on September 28, which expired on October 12, before announcing the strike.
The union listed its seven major demands to include:
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Re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement
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Sustainable funding for public universities
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Revitalisation of tertiary institutions
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End to victimisation of members in LASU, KSU (Prince Abubakar Audu University), and FUTO
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Payment of 25–35% salary arrears
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Settlement of promotion arrears spanning four years
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Remittance of outstanding third-party deductions
At a town hall meeting in Sokoto, ASUU’s Sokoto Zone criticised the government for neglecting the university system, with union leaders lamenting worsening conditions and mass brain drain, as over 309 professors have reportedly left Nigeria for better opportunities abroad.
“Instead of funding existing universities, the government keeps establishing new ones, turning them into political projects,” said Prof. Nurudeen Almustapha, ASUU Chairman at Usmanu Danfodiyo University.
In contrast, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) have both distanced themselves from ASUU’s strike.
In a statement signed by Dr. ‘Niyi Sunmonu, CONUA’s National President, the group clarified that it “has not declared any strike”, reaffirming its commitment to academic stability and constructive dialogue.
NAMDA, in a similar statement by Dr. Mohammed Askira, directed its members to continue their academic, clinical, and research duties, insisting it will not participate in any strike action.
“Our members will remain at their duty posts. We expect Vice Chancellors to ensure law and order on campuses. We will not tolerate undue application of ‘No Work, No Pay’ to our members,” NAMDA stated.
Both unions expressed confidence in the ongoing engagements with the Education Ministry and reaffirmed their support for dialogue over disruption in resolving issues affecting Nigeria’s university system.
