The Federal Government has reaffirmed that the “No Work, No Pay” policy remains part of Nigeria’s labor law as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) begins a two-week warning strike.
In a statement signed by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, the government said it would enforce the law if academic activities were disrupted. It added that while it continues to show goodwill, it will uphold fairness and accountability in managing public funds.
The statement assured parents, students, and the public that the government remains committed to industrial harmony in higher education. It urged all academic unions to prioritize dialogue and cooperation over confrontation.
ASUU, however, launched a two-week nationwide strike on Sunday.
The union’s president, Professor Chris Piwuna, told reporters at the University of Abuja that the government made no progress to avert the action. He noted that the government failed to respond to the union’s 14-day ultimatum issued on September 28, 2025.
Piwuna confirmed that ASUU directed all its branches to withdraw their services from midnight on Monday, October 13, 2025.
He explained that the strike would be “comprehensive and total,” following the decision of ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC).
Last week, the Federal Government appealed to ASUU to suspend the strike, assuring that it remains committed to meeting the union’s demands. According to Education Minister Tunji Alausa, ongoing talks between both sides are making progress, and the government is actively reviewing ASUU’s proposals.
Alausa said the government reorganized the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Tertiary Institutions Negotiation Committee to fast-track talks with academic and non-academic unions across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
He emphasized that President Bola Tinubu has directed all efforts toward preventing further disruptions in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
