The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to enforce the “no work, no pay” policy as the nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) commenced on Monday, directing vice-chancellors of all federal universities to ensure full compliance with labour laws.
The directive was issued in a circular dated October 13, 2025, and signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa. Copies were sent to key stakeholders including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, pro-chancellors of federal universities, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
In the circular, the government expressed disappointment over ASUU’s decision to embark on industrial action despite ongoing engagement efforts, warning that it would no longer tolerate disruptions to the academic calendar.
“In line with existing labour regulations, any employee who fails to discharge official duties during a strike period will not be entitled to remuneration for that period,” the circular stated.
Dr. Alausa directed vice-chancellors to conduct physical headcounts and roll calls of academic staff, compile attendance reports, and submit detailed lists of those absent due to the strike. Salaries of non-compliant staff are to be withheld for the duration of the industrial action.
He clarified, however, that members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) — who are not participating in the strike — should continue to receive their full entitlements.
ASUU had on Sunday declared a two-week warning strike effective Monday, October 13, to press home its demands, including the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement, release of withheld salaries, revitalisation funding for public universities, payment of promotion arrears, and settlement of salary differentials.
Meanwhile, academic activities across several campuses have been paralyzed following the union’s directive. At the University of Abuja, lecture halls were under lock and key, though members of CONUA continued academic work.
Similarly, universities such as the University of Jos (UniJos), University of Ilorin (Unilorin), Kwara State University (KWASU), Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Alex Ekwueme Federal University (AE-FUNAI), Abia State University (ABSU), University of Calabar (UNICAL), University of Cross River (UNICROSS), University of Ibadan (UI), and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) have all joined the strike, resulting in a shutdown of teaching and related activities.
At Bayero University Kano (BUK), partial compliance was reported, as students sitting for examinations were allowed to conclude their papers before full enforcement of the strike.
Reacting to the federal government’s stance, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) criticized the “no work, no pay” directive, describing it as intimidation that would not resolve the crisis.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the strike was a legitimate reaction to the government’s failure to honour agreements voluntarily signed with the union.
“The continued refusal to implement collectively bargained agreements is undermining public tertiary institutions. Rather than engage in good faith, the government resorts to threats that only deepen the crisis,” Ajaero said.
Despite the government’s claim that most of ASUU’s demands have been addressed, the strike continues to disrupt activities in universities across the country.
