FG Enforces ‘No Work, No Pay’ Policy as ASUU Commences Two-Week Warning Strike

The Federal Government has announced the immediate activation of its “No Work, No Pay” policy against members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), following the union’s commencement of a two-week warning strike over unresolved issues with the government.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in an interview with THISDAY on Sunday, stating that the government has met almost all of ASUU’s demands and accused the union of deliberately disrupting academic activities despite sustained government efforts to address their grievances.

According to Alausa, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has made significant strides in improving lecturers’ welfare, including the payment of outstanding allowances, integration of earned allowances into salaries, and clearance of promotion arrears.

“All the low-hanging fruits that border on academic allowances and arrears, we have paid. These have been mainstreamed into their main salary. We have also finalised their promotion arrears, and from the next budget, there will be no outstanding payments,” Alausa said.

The minister added that universities have been directed to pay post-graduate supervision and research allowances, while the President has approved a new teaching allowance scheme to further enhance lecturers’ welfare and remuneration.

However, Alausa accused ASUU of bad faith, revealing that after a meeting with the union last Friday, the lecturers failed to honour their commitment to return with feedback.

“The federal government is doing everything to keep students in school, but ASUU seems determined to do otherwise. They do not want our children to be in school, and the government will not allow that. Therefore, we will immediately implement ‘No Work, No Pay’. Even during this strike, they will not be paid,” he stated.

In a separate statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the Federal Government urged ASUU to reconsider its decision, emphasising that dialogue remains the most effective and sustainable path toward resolving lingering issues in the tertiary education sector.

Furthermore, in a joint statement by Alausa and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, the ministers confirmed that the government has made a comprehensive offer to the union and is still awaiting an official response.

They reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining industrial harmony in the education sector and ensuring that Nigerian students are not subjected to prolonged academic disruptions.