By Frank Ulom
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – The Federal Government has warned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that the “no work, no pay” policy will be applied if the Union proceeds with its planned two-week warning strike across public universities, set to begin on 13 October 2025.
This was contained in a joint statement issued by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmed, on Sunday.
The statement reiterated the government’s commitment to sustained dialogue with ASUU to address lingering issues in the university system, noting that it had demonstrated “sincerity, patience, and goodwill” in negotiations.
According to the Ministers, most of ASUU’s demands have already been addressed, including the introduction of a substantial teaching allowance and improvements to academic staff conditions of service.
“The few remaining matters are those that rightfully fall within the jurisdiction of the governing councils of the respective universities, which have been recently reconstituted to handle such internal issues,” the statement read.
The government expressed disappointment over ASUU’s decision to embark on a warning strike despite what it described as concrete steps taken to meet the Union’s concerns.
It noted that the government had met agreed deadlines for presenting its position to ASUU but, instead of continuing dialogue, the Union opted for industrial action.
The statement stressed that such action “does not reflect a spirit of cooperation or fairness to the students and the public,” particularly given the government’s efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to prioritise staff welfare and academic calendar stability.
While urging the Union to reconsider its position, the government reaffirmed that dialogue remains the most effective and sustainable means of resolving disputes within the education sector.
“The Federal Government remains open to engagement at any level to prevent unnecessary disruption in the education sector,” the Ministers said.
The statement also reassured students, parents, and the general public of the government’s firm commitment to maintaining industrial harmony in the tertiary education system.
The Ministers appealed to all academic unions to embrace partnership and dialogue rather than confrontation in the collective interest of Nigeria’s higher education sector.
