BREAKING: FG Orders ‘No-Work, No-Pay’ for Striking ASUU Lecturers

• The Federal Government has ordered vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities to enforce the no-work, no-pay policy against striking ASUU members.

• Education Minister Tunji Alausa insists that salaries will be withheld for lecturers who fail to resume work.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has directed vice-chancellors of federal universities to enforce the no-work, no-pay policy on members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) currently participating in a nationwide strike.

The directive was contained in a circular dated October 13, 2025, and signed by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa. The Minister expressed the Federal Government’s displeasure with ASUU’s decision to embark on a strike despite ongoing negotiations and dialogue between the union and government representatives.

According to the circular, all vice-chancellors of federal universities are to implement the no-work, no-pay rule against lecturers who refuse to perform their official duties during the strike period.

“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 letter read.
“All vice-chancellors of federal universities are hereby directed to ensure strict application of this provision,” it added.

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The circular also ordered universities to conduct a roll-call and physical headcount of all academic staff and submit detailed reports showing those present and working during the strike.

However, academic workers under the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) — who are not participating in the industrial action — are exempted from the directive.

Alausa emphasized that salary payments must be withheld from lecturers who fail to carry out their duties, while the National Universities Commission (NUC) has been instructed to monitor compliance and submit a consolidated report to the ministry within seven days.

The development follows ASUU’s declaration of a two-week warning strike beginning October 13, over unresolved issues with the Federal Government. The lecturers are demanding implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, payment of withheld salaries, and improved funding for the revitalisation of public universities.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government maintains that it has met all ASUU’s key demands and remains open to further dialogue, urging the union to return to classrooms and avoid disrupting the nation’s higher education calendar.