AS the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) begins a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike, the Federal Government has restated its resolve to enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy if academic activities are disrupted across the nation’s public universities.
In a statement released on Sunday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo sent to News Point Nigeria, the government reaffirmed that the policy remains a subsisting provision under Nigeria’s labour laws and will continue to guide its response to industrial disputes in the education sector.
“The Federal Government wishes to restate that the principle of ‘No Work, No Pay’ remains an existing law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The government will be guided by this provision should the ongoing industrial action affect academic operations,” the statement read.
Boriowo explained that while the administration continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility in addressing ASUU’s concerns, it will not abdicate its duty to ensure accountability and fairness in the use of public funds.
The statement also reassured students, parents, and the general public that the government remains fully committed to sustaining industrial harmony within the nation’s tertiary education system.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, once again appeals to all academic unions to embrace dialogue, mutual understanding, and partnership in the overall interest of our higher education sector,” the statement added.
The union, however, insists that the strike became inevitable after what it described as the government’s failure to honour previous commitments and to respond meaningfully to its demands within the 14-day ultimatum issued on September 28, 2025.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the University of Abuja, ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, said the decision to embark on the warning strike was reached during the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
“Compatriots of the press, it goes without saying that there is nothing sufficient on ground to stop the implementation of ASUU-NEC’s resolution to embark on a two-week warning strike at the expiry of the 14-day notice,” Piwuna said.
He directed all ASUU branches nationwide to commence a full withdrawal of services from midnight on Monday, October 13, 2025, stressing that the action would be total and comprehensive.
Just last week, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had appealed to ASUU to shelve its planned strike, assuring that the Federal Government remains committed to addressing all pending issues.
Alausa disclosed that the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee had been reconstituted and inaugurated to fast-track negotiations with all academic and non-academic unions in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed the ministry to ensure no further disruption occurs in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
“We have made significant progress, N50 billion has been released for Earned Academic Allowances, and another N150 billion has been captured in the 2025 budget for needs assessment, to be disbursed in tranches,” the Minister noted.