The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has dismissed the federal government’s ‘No Work, No Pay’ directive, insisting that the union will not be intimidated by threats.
ASUU President Chris Piwuna stated this on Monday while speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s programme, ‘Politics Today.’
He said the union remains united and would not succumb to what he described as the government’s attempt to divide the academic community.
“We don’t respond to threats, and nobody can threaten us,” Piwuna said.
Piwuna stated that all academic bodies, such as the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) and the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), were standing together in support of the strike.
“He is threatening us, writing to NAMDA and CONUA, telling them they can’t get their salaries. He wants to divide us, but we are united in this matter.
“CONUA is with us, NAMDA is with us, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) is with us, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) is with us. The polytechnics and colleges of education are also with us,” he said.
The ASUU president advised the minister of education, Dr Tunji Alausa, to focus on resolving the ongoing dispute instead of issuing threats.
“He has got something coming. He had better sit down and solve this problem, or he will fail in trying to divide us,” he added.
Piwuna also hinted that the union remained open to dialogue and was ready to engage with the federal government.
“Today, I received a call from the Minister of State for Labour. She said she had been directed to intervene and get this matter resolved. ASUU is willing. We are ready and available to discuss this matter once and for all,” the ASUU president added.
NLC Backs ASUU Strike, Rejects FG’s ‘No Pay, No Work’ Rule
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared full support for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)’s two-week warning strike.
In a statement issued yesterday and signed by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the labour centre accused the government of failing to honour its agreements with university lecturers and of neglecting Nigeria’s public education system.
Ajaero said ASUU’s warning strike was a direct result of the Federal Government’s inaction and disregard for previously negotiated terms.
He described the action as both necessary and justified, insisting that the government, not the lecturers, had breached the terms of engagement.
The NLC also rejected the government’s threat to invoke the “No Work, No Pay” rule, arguing that it would distort the situation.
The NLC said it would not allow the government’s neglect to continue unchecked, warning that organised labour would take collective action if the situation persisted.
The statement reads: “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is deeply concerned by the persistent crisis in Nigeria’s public education system, marked by chronic underfunding and a failure to honour agreements. The government refuses to implement voluntary agreements with lecturers and workers, undermining public tertiary institutions.
“The lecturers are willing to work, but by reneging on its commitments, the government has made it impossible for them to do so with the dignity and conditions their profession deserves. The core principle remains: ‘No Pay, No Work’.”
It called the federal government to immediately set aside its threats and address the core issues in the negotiated agreements with ASUU.
“The struggle of ASUU is our struggle. The fight for public education is a fight for Nigeria’s future. We will no longer allow these unions to stand alone. We demand that the federal government use this two-week window to present a concrete plan for fully implementing all agreements.
“The choice is clear: honour the agreements and salvage public education, or face the resolute and unified force of the entire Nigerian workforce,” he said
Federal Govt Enforces ‘No Work, No Pay’ Policy
Meanwhile, the federal government has directed all vice-chancellors of federal universities to enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy against members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) currently participating in the ongoing strike.
In a circular dated 13th October, 2025, signed by the minister of education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, which LEADERSHIP sighted, the Ministry expressed dissatisfaction at ASUU’s decision to embark on industrial action despite the government’s repeated appeals for dialogue.
Strike Disrupts Final Semester Exams At FUD, SLU
The strike has disrupted the Federal University Dutse (FUD) final semester examinations in Jigawa State.
The disruption has left students, including finalists, angry and wandering around the campus. Some affected students were scheduled to complete their examinations by Wednesday, October 15.
According to Dr Salim Ahmad, chairman of the ASUU Federal University, Dutse chapter, the union was compelled to embark on the strike due to the inconsistency and failure of successive federal governments to abide by an agreement signed in 2017.
“Every teacher wants to be in the classroom, but we are always very concerned about the condition of teaching and learning,” Dr Ahmad said.
“What we have been agitating for is an improvement in the conditions of our universities, which the federal government promised but has failed to deliver since 2017.”
Similarly, the chairman of ASUU at Sule Lamido University (SLU), Kafin Hausa, Dr Mustapha Hussain, confirmed that the institution joined the nationwide warning strike to demand improved conditions of Nigerian universities.
TSU, Wukari Varsity comply With ASUU’s Directive
Academic activities have been paralysed at Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo, and the Federal University of Wukari in compliance with the ASUU national body’s directive.
The ASUU leadership in the two universities have constituted a task force to ensure strict compliance.
Dr. Garba Mbave Joshua, the ASUU chairman in TSU, directed that no lecturer should be seen attending to students for any academic work during the period under review.
ASUU chairperson at the Federal University of Wukari, Dr Asabe Mercy Magoomya, who declined to comment on the development, said they were directed not to speak with the press.
Our correspondent gathered that Dr. Magoomya has directed members to stay away from the campus premises pending the directive of the union’s national body.
Students Fear Delayed Graduation
Academic activities have also been crippled at Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU) and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.
At SAZU, lecturers have completely withdrawn their services, suspending all teaching and examination-related activities.
Shu’aibu Abubakar, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, confirmed that union members were strictly observing the strike directive.
“There is total compliance. No lecturer reports to work, and all academic activities, including examinations, have been suspended until we receive further instructions from ASUU headquarters,” he said.
A final-year student from the Department of Economics, who preferred anonymity, expressed disappointment at the development.
“This strike is untimely. I just finished my exams and was hoping to graduate this year. If it lingers, it will delay my NYSC mobilisation. We are tired of starting and stopping. Our future is at stake,” he lamented.
When our correspondent visited the Yelwa Campus, classrooms were deserted, offices locked, and the usually busy walkways empty, with an eerie silence replacing the normal campus bustle.
Another student, Mohammed Yunusa, from the Faculty of Technology Education, said the strike had thrown his plans into disarray.
For marketing and advertising, or publishing your promotional content, contact us at [email protected]