FG Orders VCs to Enforce “No Work, No Pay” Policy as ASUU Strike Grounds Varsities
By Adesina Wahab, Victor Ahiuma-Young, Joseph Erunke, Marie-Therese Nanlong, James Ogunnaike, Jeff Agbodo, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Ike Uchechukwu, Adeola Badru, Shina Abubakar, Egufe Yafugborhi and Bashir Bello
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its decision to implement the “no work, no pay” policy following the nationwide strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
In a circular dated October 13, 2025, signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the government directed all vice-chancellors of federal universities to submit attendance and compliance reports of academic staff immediately.
The directive was also sent to key education officials, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Pro-Chancellors, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
“In line with existing labour laws, any employee who fails to perform official duties during the strike will not be entitled to payment for that period,” the circular stated.
Alausa instructed VCs to conduct roll calls and physical headcounts of lecturers and to forward lists of staff present and absent. Salaries of those participating in the strike are to be withheld for the strike duration.
However, the minister clarified that members of CONUA (Congress of University Academics) and NAMDA (National Association of Medical and Dental Academics), who are not part of the strike, will continue to receive their full entitlements.
ASUU Declares Two-Week Warning Strike
ASUU declared a two-week warning strike on Sunday, October 13, to demand the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement, the release of withheld salaries, revitalization funding, and payment of promotion arrears.
The government insists that most of these demands have been met and described the strike as unjustified.
Universities Join Strike Nationwide
- UniAbuja: Activities slowed to a halt, though CONUA members continued lectures.
- UniJos: Joined the strike, leaving PGD students stranded.
- Unilorin & KWASU: Both universities confirmed participation after congress meetings.
- FUNAAB, TASUED & OOU: Academic activities paralyzed across Ogun State universities.
- EBSU & AE-FUNAI: Lecturers fully complied with the strike order.
- ABSU: ASUU confirmed total participation, dismissing the presence of CONUA members.
- UNICAL & UNICROSS: Both universities joined, citing salary structure uniformity.
- UI: Total shutdown of academic and administrative activities.
- OAU: Branch chairman Prof. Anthony Odiwe confirmed full compliance.
- BUK: Partial compliance, allowing ongoing examinations to finish before total shutdown.
NLC Backs ASUU, Warns FG Against Intimidation
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) condemned the Federal Government’s threat to invoke the “no work, no pay” rule.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the strike was not an act of defiance but a legitimate reaction to years of government neglect.
“Rather than engaging in good faith, the government is resorting to intimidation. The failure to honor signed agreements has crippled public tertiary education,” Ajaero said.
He urged the government to adopt dialogue and accountability instead of threats, warning that continued disregard for agreements could worsen the crisis.
