The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has dismissed the Federal Government’s directive enforcing the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy, vowing not to be intimidated as its two-week warning strike continues to paralyse academic activities across public universities nationwide.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made this known on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, describing the government’s approach as “divisive and counterproductive.”
“We don’t respond to threats, and nobody can threaten us,” Piwuna declared. “All academic unions — NAMDA, CONUA, SSANU, NASU — are standing together in this struggle. The minister is trying to divide us, but we are united.”
Piwuna urged the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to prioritise genuine dialogue instead of issuing threats.
“He had better sit down and solve this problem or he will fail in trying to divide us,” he warned, adding that ASUU remains open to constructive engagement with the government.
He revealed that the union had been contacted by the Minister of State for Labour for possible intervention, affirming ASUU’s willingness to discuss and resolve all outstanding issues once and for all.
Strike Grounds Varsities, Disrupts Exams
Across the country, academic activities have been crippled as universities fully comply with the union’s directive. The industrial action, which commenced Monday, follows the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government to address issues including unpaid Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), withheld salaries, and non-implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.
At Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, lectures were suspended, leaving classrooms and offices deserted.
At University of Benin, ASUU ordered members to suspend all teaching, examinations, project supervision, and departmental meetings.
At Federal University Dutse, students were forced to abandon ongoing final semester examinations.
Dr. Salim Ahmad, ASUU chairman at FUD, said:
“Every teacher wants to be in the classroom, but the government has refused to honour agreements since 2017. We can’t continue like this.”
Similar scenes were reported at Taraba State University, Federal University Wukari, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, UNIJOS, KASU, UNIZIK, KWASU, IBBU Lapai, and FUT Minna, where classes were halted and examinations postponed.
At University of Jos, Sa’adu Zungur University, and Ebonyi State University, campuses were deserted, with students expressing frustration over potential delays in their graduation.
“This strike is untimely,” lamented a final-year student in Bauchi. “We just finished exams and were hoping to graduate this year. Our future is at stake.”
However, at the University of Maiduguri, academic activities were ongoing, though the local ASUU branch confirmed plans to hold an emergency congress to decide on compliance.
NLC Declares Support for ASUU
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its full weight behind ASUU’s strike, accusing the Federal Government of neglecting the public education sector and breaching previous agreements.
In a statement signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the congress described the action as “necessary and justified,” insisting that government inaction forced the lecturers’ hand.
“The lecturers are willing to work, but by reneging on its commitments, the government has made it impossible for them to do so with dignity,” Ajaero stated.
“The struggle of ASUU is our struggle. The fight for public education is a fight for Nigeria’s future.”
The NLC also rejected the government’s ‘No Work, No Pay’ threat, warning that labour would take “collective action” if the impasse persisted.
FG Orders Enforcement of ‘No Work, No Pay’
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has ordered vice-chancellors of all federal universities to enforce the ‘No Work, No Pay’ rule.
In a circular dated October 13, 2025, signed by Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa, the ministry expressed “deep dissatisfaction” over ASUU’s decision to proceed with industrial action despite “ongoing negotiations and appeals for dialogue.”
The directive, copied to key government offices including the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Budget Office, and National Universities Commission, warned that the government would no longer tolerate non-compliance with labour laws.
Students Appeal for Swift Resolution
From Awka to Lokoja, Keffi, and Jalingo, frustrated students have appealed to both parties to end the strike.
At Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), a 300-level student, Ebuka Christian, said:
“We resumed barely a week ago, only for ASUU to declare a strike. The government and the union should find a lasting solution.”
In Lokoja, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi of the Federal University urged both sides to return to the negotiation table, saying only sincere dialogue could bring lasting peace to Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
