The Federal Government of Nigeria has warned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that it will enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy if the union proceeds with its planned industrial action, disrupting academic activities across the nation’s universities.
In a joint statement released on Sunday, the Minister of Education, Prof. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmed, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to dialogue but cautioned that it would not hesitate to apply existing labour laws if the strike goes ahead.
“The Federal Government has demonstrated sincerity, patience, and goodwill in its engagements with the Union,” the statement read.
According to the ministers, the government has already addressed several of ASUU’s demands, including increased teaching allowances, improved working conditions, and other welfare-related matters. They noted that outstanding issues fall within the purview of university governing councils, which have recently been reconstituted to resolve them.
“Despite these efforts, ASUU’s decision to proceed with strike action does not reflect a spirit of cooperation or fairness to students and the Nigerian public,” the ministers said, emphasizing that the government had met all deadlines for presenting its position.
They added that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the administration remains committed to ensuring stability in Nigeria’s education system and preventing further disruptions in the academic calendar.
However, the ministers issued a clear warning:
“The ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy remains an extant labour law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the government will be guided by this law should academic activities be disrupted.”
The statement urged ASUU to reconsider its strike decision and return to the negotiation table, assuring that the Federal Government remains open to constructive dialogue at all levels.
“We appeal to ASUU to embrace dialogue as the only sustainable path to resolving disputes. The government is ready to engage further to protect the interests of students, parents, and the entire education sector,” the ministers concluded.
