The Federal Government’s “No Work, No Pay” Policy and the ASUU Strike
The federal government has reaffirmed its resolve to implement the “no work, no pay” policy as the nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began. This directive was issued in a circular dated October 13, 2025, signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and distributed to key education stakeholders. These stakeholders included 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).
According to the circular, the government expressed disappointment over the union’s decision to embark on a strike, despite ongoing engagement efforts. The government warned that it would no longer condone disruptions to the academic calendar. It emphasized that any employee who fails to discharge official duties during a strike period will not be entitled to remuneration for that period.
Dr. Alausa directed vice-chancellors to immediately conduct roll calls and physical headcounts of academic staff in their institutions. They are to compile detailed reports identifying those present and performing their duties and those absent due to the strike. Salaries of staff who fail to work are to be withheld for the duration of the industrial action.
However, the minister clarified that members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), who were not participating in the strike, should continue to receive their full entitlements.
Impact of the Strike on Various Universities
Academic activities at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) have slowed to a near halt, following the nationwide strike declared by ASUU. While members of CONUA claimed they went ahead with scheduled lectures, most classrooms remained locked, and there was no sign of teaching activities in progress.
Prof. Abdul Buba, Chairman, CONUA, UniAbuja chapter, maintained that CONUA remains deeply committed to academic stability, excellence, and the smooth functioning of Nigeria’s universities through constructive dialogue and peaceful engagement with government and all stakeholders.
Other universities, including the University of Jos (UniJos), the University of Ilorin (Unilorin), Kwara State University (KWASU), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), Abia State University (ABSU), University of Calabar (UNICAL), and University of Cross River (UNICROSS), also joined the nationwide strike.
At the University of Ibadan (UI), all academic and related activities on campus were brought to a halt. There was total compliance with the strike directive as lecture halls and offices remained locked, while the once-busy campus witnessed a drastic reduction in both human and vehicular movement.
In Bayero University Kano (BUK), the strike was partial as some students sitting for examinations were allowed to sit for their papers. Student sources in the school said the strike had commenced, adding that they were allowed to sit for their examination before the strike fully commenced.
NLC Condemns “No Work, No Pay” Threat
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the Federal Government’s threat to invoke the “No Work, No Pay” policy against striking university lecturers, saying such intimidation would not resolve the crisis in the nation’s public tertiary institutions.
Reacting to the two-week warning strike declared by ASUU, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero stated that the continued refusal to implement voluntarily signed agreements is undermining public tertiary institutions and eroding confidence in the system. He added that the strike is a legitimate response to years of neglect and unfulfilled promises.
Trump Hails M’East Peace Pact
In a separate development, U.S. President Donald Trump hailed what he described as the dawn of a new Middle East in his speech before the Israeli parliament after Hamas freed all living hostages and Israel released Palestinian prisoners under the U.S.-brokered peace deal.
This comes even as the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) accused Hamas of violating the peace deal over the delay in releasing the bodies of the dead hostages. Hamas had released the names of four deceased hostages whose bodies, it said, would be handed over but only two were delivered.
The 20 remaining living hostages in Gaza were returned to Israel earlier yesterday after two years of war, while all 250 Palestinian prisoners and more than 1,700 detainees from Gaza, held by Israel without charge since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, were released.
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