The federal government has said that the “no work, no pay” principle is the subsisting labour law it intends to invoke should the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) disrupts academic activities with its industrial action.
Recall that ASUU had on Sunday (yesterday) declared a two-week warning strike, starting from today to protest against its unmet demands by the federal government.
The Union’s president, Prof Chris Piwuna, who addressed journalists in Abuja, said there had been no meaningful progress to prevent the union from embarking on the strike.
According to the academic, the 14-day notice issued on September 28, 2025 expired without any substantial response from the relevant authorities.
He stated that all ASUU branches across the country had been directed to commence a full withdrawal of their services beginning October 13, 2025 (today).
He said the strike would be both total and comprehensive, as stated in the resolution reached at the union’s recent national executive council (NEC) meeting.
The union demands the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, the release of the withheld three and a half months’ salaries, sustainable funding of public universities, revitalisation of public universities, and cessation of the victimisation of lecturers in the Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
Others are payment of outstanding 25-35% salary arrears, payment of promotion arrears for over four years and release of withheld third-party deductions (cooperative contributions, union check-off dues).
In its reaction, the federal government accused the lecturers’ union of being uncooperative despite efforts by the government to avert the strike.
The minister of education Dr. Tunji Alausa and minister of state for education, Prof Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmed, said most of the requests had been met during negotiation.
Spokesperson for the ministry of education, Ms Folasade Boriowo, said in a statement issued on behalf of the two ministers that the federal government had made a comprehensive offer to the union and was awaiting ASUU’s official response.
According to Boriowo, they (Alausa and Ahmed) stressed that the offer addresses the union’s major concerns, 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 that are within the jurisdiction of individual university governing councils, which are actively being handled.
“The federal government remains open and committed to continued engagement with ASUU once their formal response to the offer is received,” the statement added.
They emphasised that the federal government had approached the matter with demonstrable commitment and sincerity, evident in its prompt policy responses and financial interventions in the education sector.
“However, ASUU has not reciprocated this gesture and appears determined to proceed with the planned strike despite the pending offer and ongoing engagement,” the statement noted.
The ministers reaffirmed that the Tinubu Administration remained unwavering in its commitment to the welfare of Nigerian lecturers and the stability of the university system.
It added: “According to them (Alausa and Ahmed), 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.
“They, however, emphasised that the “no work, no pay” policy remains an extant labour law…and the government will be guided by this law should academic activities be disrupted in the nation’s universities. While the government continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility, it will not abdicate its responsibility to uphold fairness and accountability in the use of public resources.
“The government has shown sincerity and commitment through a series of engagements and policy actions. We are confident that with continued dialogue, every legitimate concern can be resolved without shutting down our campuses. Our students must remain in school,” the statement said.
The ministers reassured Nigerian students, parents, and the general public that the federal government is firmly committed to maintaining industrial harmony in the tertiary education system.
“The ministers 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.”
