By Joy Yesufu
The Federal Government has warned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) against embarking on its planned nationwide strike, threatening to enforce the “no work, no pay” policy if academic activities are disrupted.
In a joint statement issued on Sunday, the Minister of Education, Prof. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmed, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving the union’s grievances through dialogue.
“The Federal Government has demonstrated sincerity, patience, and goodwill in its engagements with ASUU,” the statement read.
According to the ministers, many of ASUU’s demands including enhanced teaching allowances and improved conditions of service have already been addressed.
They added that outstanding matters fall under the purview of university governing councils, which have been reconstituted to handle such issues.
“Despite these efforts, ASUU has opted for strike action. This does not reflect a spirit of cooperation or fairness to students and the public,” l
They noted that the government had met its deadlines for responding to the union’s concerns.
The ministers stressed that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, education remains a top priority, with a particular focus on ensuring academic stability and institutional accountability.
However, the government cautioned that it would not hesitate to apply existing labour laws should the union proceed with industrial action.
“The ‘no work, no pay’ policy remains an extant law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the government will be guided by this law should academic activities be disrupted,” the statement warned.
While urging ASUU to reconsider its position, the ministers reiterated that the government remains open to dialogue to prevent further disruption in the university system.
“The Federal Government remains committed to continuous engagement with all stakeholders to maintain peace and progress in the education sector,” the statement added.
