ABUJA, Nigeria — The federal government has directed all federal universities to implement a “no work, no pay” policy for lecturers participating in the ongoing two-week warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The directive was contained in a circular dated Monday, October 13, 2025, signed by Minister of State for Education, Tunji Alausa, and addressed to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, pro-chancellors of federal universities, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Alausa expressed the government’s disappointment over ASUU’s decision to embark on a nationwide strike despite ongoing negotiations.
“In line with extant provisions of the labour laws, the federal government reiterates its position on the enforcement of the ‘no work, no pay’ policy in respect of any employee who fails to discharge his or her official duties during the period of strike action,” the letter reads.
The minister directed vice-chancellors to enforce the policy immediately and to ensure strict compliance across all academic departments.
“All vice-chancellors of federal universities are hereby directed to ensure strict application of this provision,” Alausa stated.
He also instructed university administrators to conduct roll calls and physical headcounts of all academic staff, submitting reports to indicate those present and performing their duties.
Lecturers who are members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), both of which are not participating in the strike, are exempted from the directive.
“Ensure that salary payment for the period of work stoppage is withheld from those who fail to perform their duties,” Alausa ordered, adding that the NUC has been tasked with monitoring compliance and submitting a consolidated report to the ministry within seven days.
ASUU’s current two-week strike began on Monday, October 13, 2025, in protest over what it called the federal government’s failure to honour agreements on lecturers’ welfare, the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement, and the release of withheld salaries.
The union is also demanding the payment of outstanding promotion arrears and improved funding for the revitalisation of public universities.
The education minister has, however, insisted that all of ASUU’s demands have been met and urged the union to return to work.
“I do not see reasons why they have gone on this strike,” Alausa said in a separate interview earlier this week.
“All demands of ASUU have been met.”
The “no work, no pay” principle has been a recurring point of contention between the federal government and ASUU.
During the union’s eight-month strike in 2022, lecturers’ salaries were withheld for the entire duration of the industrial action.
The government later approved a partial waiver in 2023, releasing four months’ worth of withheld wages while retaining the rest — an issue that remains one of ASUU’s central grievances.
