FG Orders Varsities to Enforce “No Work, No Pay” Policy on Striking ASUU Lecturers
The Federal Government has issued a firm directive to all federal universities, ordering the enforcement of the “no work, no pay” policy on striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
In a new circular dated October 13, 2025, and signed by Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, vice-chancellors were instructed to ensure that lecturers who fail to report for duty during the ongoing strike will not receive salaries for that period.
Copies of the circular were also distributed to key government offices, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Permanent Secretary of Education, Pro-Chancellors of federal universities, the Director-General of the Budget Office, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Government Reaffirms “No Work, No Pay” Policy
According to the circular, the government expressed disappointment that ASUU ignored several appeals for dialogue and has chosen to continue its industrial action.
The Ministry of Education emphasized that it would strictly enforce existing labour laws to maintain order in public universities, quoting the directive:
“In line with the Labour Laws of the Federation, the Federal Government maintains that any employee who fails to perform official duties during a strike will not receive payment for that period.”
Immediate Compliance Required from Vice-Chancellors
Minister Alausa instructed all vice-chancellors to conduct a roll call and physical headcount of academic staff at their respective institutions. Universities are required to submit a detailed report identifying staff who are working and those participating in the strike.
He further ordered that salaries of lecturers who do not report to work be withheld pending further instructions.
Exempted Academic Unions
The government clarified that this directive does not apply to members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), as both unions are not participating in the strike. Their salaries will continue to be paid in full.
Monitoring and Oversight
To ensure full compliance, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has been mandated to monitor all universities and submit a comprehensive report to the Ministry of Education within seven days.
Dr. Alausa urged university leaders to treat the issue with urgency and national responsibility, warning that failure to comply could attract disciplinary measures.
ASUU’s Stand and Key Demands
ASUU, which declared a total and comprehensive warning strike on Sunday, October 13, said its decision stemmed from the Federal Government’s failure to address long-standing issues affecting Nigeria’s university system.
The union’s demands include:
- Finalizing the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement.
- Payment of three and a half months’ withheld salaries.
- Ensuring sustainable funding and revitalization of public universities.
- Stopping the victimization of lecturers at LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.
- Settling 25–35% salary arrears and promotion arrears owed for over four years.
- Releasing withheld third-party deductions, including cooperative contributions and union dues.
Bottom Line
With this latest move, the Federal Government is making it clear that it intends to enforce discipline across public universities while maintaining its stance on labour law compliance. However, with ASUU insisting on its demands, the standoff appears far from over — leaving students and parents once again in uncertainty over the academic calendar.
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