JOS: The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has dismissed the Federal Government’s enforcement of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ directive, insisting that the union will not be cowed into ending its ongoing strike.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, said the union remains resolute and united despite what he described as the government’s attempt to “divide and intimidate” the academic community.
We don’t respond to threats, and nobody can threaten us, Piwuna declared. “He (the Minister of Education) is trying to divide us by writing to other academic groups like NAMDA and CONUA, but it won’t work. We are united in this matter.
The ASUU President noted that the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), as well as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and NASU, are all standing in solidarity with the strike.
He described the Federal Government’s directive as provocative and unnecessary, calling on Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to prioritize resolving the lingering dispute rather than issuing threats.
He had better sit down and solve this problem or he will fail in trying to divide us,” Piwuna warned.
Despite his firm stance, the ASUU leader hinted that the union remains open to dialogue, revealing that the Minister of State for Labour had reached out to begin peace talks.
ASUU is willing. We are ready and available to discuss this matter once and for all,” he said.
Earlier on Monday, the Federal Government directed all universities to enforce the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy against striking lecturers.
In a circular dated October 13, 2025, and signed by the Education Minister, the government expressed disappointment that ASUU declared a nationwide strike despite what it claimed were ongoing efforts to address the union’s demands.
The directive instructed vice-chancellors to conduct roll-calls and physical headcounts of academic staff to determine those who report for duty, with the National Universities Commission (NUC) mandated to monitor compliance and submit reports within seven days.
The government added that CONUA and NAMDA members not participating in the strike should continue receiving their salaries.
In line with extant labour laws, any employee who fails to discharge official duties during a strike period will not be entitled to wages,” the circular stated.
The latest standoff follows ASUU’s decision on Sunday to commence a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike across all public universities after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued on September 28, 2025.
At a press conference in Abuja, Professor Piwuna explained that the strike became unavoidable due to the government’s failure to implement the 2009 agreement, improve funding, and address welfare issues affecting university staff. There has been no substantial response from the authorities. The appeal to shelve the strike came too late,” he said.
He further emphasized that ASUU’s 2009 agreement with the Federal Government has remained unimplemented for over 15 years, despite multiple renegotiation attempts.
As the strike enters its second day, students and parents are expressing growing frustration over another round of academic disruption, while education analysts warn that the ongoing impasse could further cripple Nigeria’s public university system if both parties fail to reach a compromise soon.
