Government insists it has met most of ASUU’s requests; says lecturers are sabotaging students’ education, as CONUA, NAMDA distance selves from strike, pledge continued academic activities
The federal government has announced the immediate enforcement of its “No Work, No Pay” policy following the declaration of a two-week warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which commenced at midnight on Sunday. The strike, according to ASUU, is to protest what it described as the government’s failure to fulfil several outstanding agreements.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed that the government has met nearly all of ASUU’s demands but accused the union of being “intransigent” and unwilling to keep students in classrooms despite the administration’s efforts to improve lecturers’ welfare.
Speaking in Abuja, Alausa said President Bola Tinubu’s administration has demonstrated good faith by addressing key issues relating to academic allowances, arrears, and conditions of service. “All the low-hanging fruits bordering on academic allowances and arrears have been paid and mainstreamed into salaries. Promotion arrears have been finalised, and postgraduate supervision and research allowances have been directed to universities for payment,” the minister said.
Alausa noted that President Tinubu had also approved a robust teaching allowance scheme to enhance lecturers’ welfare and motivate academic staff. He lamented, however, that ASUU had failed to honour its promise to respond to government proposals after a meeting held last Friday.
“The federal government is committed to keeping students in school, but ASUU appears determined to do otherwise. Their actions suggest they are not interested in the academic stability of our children. Therefore, we are invoking the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy immediately,” Alausa declared, accusing the union of acting in bad faith despite ongoing government engagement.
In a separate statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the Ministry of Education urged ASUU to reconsider its strike decision and embrace dialogue as the most sustainable means of resolving disputes. The joint statement by Alausa and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, reiterated that the government had made a comprehensive offer addressing lecturers’ major concerns, including welfare, institutional governance, and conditions of service.
“The administration of President Tinubu has approved a Teaching Allowance designed to reflect the true value of academic work. All issues related to the review of conditions of service have been addressed, except those within the jurisdiction of university governing councils, which are actively being handled,” the ministers said.
They maintained that the government’s sincerity is evident in its proactive policies and financial interventions in the education sector. The statement further warned that while dialogue remains open, the federal government would not hesitate to enforce existing laws to safeguard the integrity of the nation’s education system.
Meanwhile, ASUU’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, while announcing the commencement of the two-week warning strike, said the action would be “total and comprehensive.” He stated that the strike was a result of the government’s failure to act on its promises despite several engagements and a 14-day ultimatum issued on September 28, which expired on October 12.
“This two-week warning strike should be taken as a window for the government to act decisively. If after this period nothing changes, we will meet again and take a different course of action, one that will be total and without retreat,” Piwuna warned.
ASUU’s demands include the re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, adequate funding for public universities, revitalisation of university infrastructure, payment of outstanding salary arrears, settlement of promotion arrears spanning four years, remittance of third-party deductions, and the cessation of alleged victimisation of its members at LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University), and FUTO.
Union leaders across the country have echoed Piwuna’s sentiments, accusing the federal government of neglecting the university system and failing to implement the recommendations of the Nimi Briggs and Ahmed Yayale committees. Prof. Nurudeen Almustapha of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, described the situation as dire, saying that government deception and inaction have pushed the education sector to the brink.
Prof. Abubakar Sabo, ASUU Zonal Chairperson in Sokoto, alleged that Nigerian university lecturers are among the lowest-paid in Africa, which has led to a massive brain drain. “Over 309 professors have left Nigeria for countries like Saudi Arabia in search of better working conditions,” he lamented, criticising the government for establishing new universities while failing to fund existing ones.
However, not all academic unions have joined ASUU’s industrial action. The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) have both distanced themselves from the strike, pledging to continue their academic and research activities.
In a statement signed by its National President, ‘Niyi Sunmonu, CONUA reaffirmed its commitment to academic stability, stating that it has no reason to embark on any strike at this time. “Our members are to continue performing their duties diligently. CONUA believes that dialogue, not disruption, is the way forward,” Sunmonu said.
He explained that following a meeting with the Minister of Education on September 11, CONUA’s concerns were addressed through the expansion of the Yayale Ahmed Renegotiation Committee to include all academic unions. Congress members, he added, unanimously resolved at their September congresses to maintain their non-strike stance and continue academic work across campuses.
Similarly, NAMDA, in a statement signed by its National Liaison Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Askira, directed all its members in medical and dental colleges to disregard the ASUU strike and continue normal academic, clinical, and research duties. “NAMDA remains committed to constructive engagement and collaboration with the Ministry of Education. We have received assurances that our demands will be addressed, and we believe in dialogue, not disruption,” Askira stated.
He cautioned university vice-chancellors against applying the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy to NAMDA members, emphasising that they would remain at their duty posts throughout the industrial action.
As the two-week strike begins, tension remains high across campuses nationwide. While the federal government maintains that it has shown good faith, ASUU insists that only concrete action, not promises, will end the cycle of strikes that have long plagued Nigeria’s university system.
With CONUA and NAMDA choosing a different path, the coming weeks will determine whether the government’s stance and policies can prevent another prolonged shutdown of academic activities or push the nation’s public universities into another extended crisis.
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