Breaking: Federal Government Enforces No-Work-No-Pay Rule on ASUU Members

In response to the current statewide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the federal government has directed vice-chancellors of federal universities to immediately execute the “no work, no pay” policy against ASUU members.

The instruction was reportedly included in a circular issued by Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, on October 13, 2025.

The document was copied to the National Universities Commission (NUC) Executive Secretary, the Director-General of the Budget Office, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Permanent Secretary of Education, the Head of the Federation’s Civil Service, and the pro-chancellors of federal universities.

Despite repeated pleas for negotiation, the ministry voiced dissatisfaction with reports of ASUU’s ongoing industrial action, according to the circular.

The circular stated, “The Federal Government reaffirms its stance on the implementation of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy with regard to any employee who does not carry out their official duties during the period of strike action, in accordance with the provisions of the Federation’s labor laws.”

The minister gave vice-chancellors instructions to physically count and roll call all academic staff members and to submit a thorough report that distinguished between those who were absent or taking part in the strike and those who were present and working.

He also mandated that employees who do not report for duty during the strike period have their salaries withheld.

Alausa explained that the policy will not apply to strike participants who are not members of the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) or the Congress of University Academics (CONUA).

The minister ordered the NUC to keep an eye on compliance and provide the ministry with a combined report in seven days.

“In the interest of the country, please handle this matter with the highest urgency and a strong sense of responsibility,” Alausa urged university administrators.

ASUU said on Sunday that it would launch a full-scale warning strike on Monday, October 13.

According to the union, the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement must be completed, three-and-a-half months’ salaries that have been withheld must be released, public universities must be sustainably funded and revitalized, and lecturers at LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO must no longer be victimized.

Additional demands include the release of delayed third-party deductions, such as cooperative payments and union check-off dues, the payment of wage arrears ranging from 25 to 35%, and the payment of promotion arrears spanning more than four years.