ASUU strike: FG moves to implement no-pay policy, orders roll-call of staff

The Federal Government has formally directed all federal universities to enforce the no-work, no-pay policy against members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) participating in the ongoing nationwide strike.

The directive, contained in a circular dated October 13, 2025, was signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who expressed the government’s disappointment with the lecturers’ decision to down tools despite “ongoing negotiations and multiple appeals for dialogue.”

In the memo addressed to all vice-chancellors and obtained by The PUNCH, Alausa reminded the universities that the Labour Act empowers the government to withhold salaries of employees who fail to perform their official duties.

“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 circular read in part.

The minister further directed all university administrators to ensure “strict application of this provision” and submit compliance reports to the ministry.

In what appears to be a major clampdown on the striking lecturers, Alausa ordered a roll-call and physical headcount of all academic staff in federal universities to identify those who have continued working despite the strike.

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“All vice-chancellors are hereby directed to conduct a roll-call and physical headcount of all academic staff and submit a report indicating staff who are present and performing their official duties,” he said.

The circular added that only members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), two unions not participating in the strike, were exempted from the directive.

Alausa also instructed that salaries of absentee lecturers should be withheld immediately.

“Ensure that salary payment for the period of work stoppage is withheld from those who fail to perform their duties,” he emphasised.

The minister noted that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had been mandated to monitor compliance and submit a consolidated report within seven days.

ASUU declared a two-week warning strike on Sunday, October 13, citing the government’s failure to implement key agreements and address long-standing issues affecting the tertiary education sector.

The union’s grievances include:

Full implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement,

Release of withheld salaries,

Improved working conditions for lecturers, and

Sustainable funding for the revitalisation of public universities.

The strike has already disrupted academic activities across several campuses nationwide, with students uncertain about when lectures will resume.

In its response, the Federal Government maintained that it had addressed most of ASUU’s demands, insisting that the strike was “needless” and “counterproductive.”

“We have met with ASUU leadership several times and resolved key issues relating to salary arrears and university revitalisation funding,” the Education Minister said in the statement.

He appealed to the union to return to the negotiating table rather than resort to industrial action, which he described as detrimental to students’ academic progress.

“The Federal Government remains open to dialogue and will continue to engage ASUU leadership in good faith,” Alausa added.

Tension Builds as Universities Await Implementation

The directive marks a new phase in the standoff between the government and ASUU, reviving memories of previous clashes over withheld salaries and unpaid arrears.

University authorities are now under pressure to enforce the order, a move expected to deepen the standoff unless new talks are initiated in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the NUC has begun collating compliance reports from universities, while the education ministry says it will not hesitate to sanction institutions that fail to act in line with the government’s directive.