ASUU: FG Threatens To Invoke "No-Work-No-Pay" Policy Against Striking Lecturers

Federal Government has threatened to invoke the no-work-no-pay policy on the striking lecturers of the public universities.

The lecturers under the auspice of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has embarked on two weeks strike to compel the Federal Government to meet their demands, especially the 2009 Yayale-Ahmed led committee agreements.

Prior to the strike, the striking lecturers had issued two weeks ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet their demand, though the last minutes efforts by the government to prevent the lecturers from embarking on the strike proved abortive after the meeting between both parties ended in a deadlock.

Minister of Education, Alausa and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, in a joint statement, appealed to the ASUU to reconsider its decision to embark on an industrial strike.

The Ministers explained that constructive dialogue remains the most effective and sustainable path toward resolving all outstanding issues in the tertiary education sector.

They added that the Federal Government has made a comprehensive offer to the union and is still awaiting ASUU’s official response.

According to them, the offer addresses the union’s primary concerns, including working conditions, institutional governance, and staff welfare.

They, however, accused ASUU of not being cooperative despite efforts by the government to avert the strike declared by the union.

 “The government has continued to prioritize the welfare of university staff and the stability of the academic calendar under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

‘Dialogue remains the most effective and sustainable path to resolving disagreements, and government remains open to engagement at any level to prevent unnecessary disruption in the education sector.

“However, “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 in the nation’s universities.

‘’While government continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility, it will not abdicate its responsibility to uphold fairness and accountability in the use of public resources.’’

They reassured Nigerian students, parents, and the general public that the Federal Government is firmly committed to maintaining industrial harmony in the tertiary education system.

“We appealed to all academic unions to embrace partnership and dialogue rather than confrontation, in the collective interest of the nation’s higher education system.

“They reiterated that the government’s education reform agenda is designed to enhance teaching and research conditions, promote institutional autonomy through strengthened university governance, and ensure that the academic community thrives in an environment of mutual respect, productivity, and innovation.”