The Federal Government has ordered vice-chancellors of federal universities to enforce the “no work, no pay” rule on lecturers participating in ASUU’s ongoing strike.
Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa directed universities to record attendance and withhold salaries of staff who refuse to work.
The Federal Government has instructed vice-chancellors of all federal universities to apply the “no work, no pay” rule against members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) participating in the ongoing nationwide strike.
The directive was contained in a circular dated October 13, 2025, and signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa. Copies of the circular were also sent to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, the Pro-Chancellors of all federal universities, and heads of other key government agencies.
According to the document, the ministry expressed disappointment that ASUU had continued its strike despite repeated appeals for dialogue. It said the government would no longer tolerate disregard for existing labour laws, stressing that the “no work, no pay” policy would now be fully enforced.
“In accordance with the Labour Laws of the Federation, the government reiterates its position that any employee who fails to perform official duties during a strike period will not be entitled to salaries or allowances,” the circular stated.
The minister directed all vice-chancellors to immediately take attendance of academic staff, conduct a physical headcount, and submit detailed reports identifying those on duty and those involved in the strike.
Dr. Alausa ordered that salaries of lecturers who refuse to work during the strike be withheld. However, he clarified that members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), who are not part of the strike, should not be affected by the directive.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) was also instructed to ensure strict compliance with the directive and to submit a consolidated report to the ministry within seven days. “Please treat this matter with urgency and a strong sense of national responsibility,” the minister told the university administrators.
The government’s decision follows ASUU’s declaration of a two-week warning strike beginning Monday, October 13. The lecturers are demanding the implementation of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, release of withheld three and a half months’ salaries, improved funding of public universities, and revitalization of tertiary education.
Other demands include payment of outstanding salary arrears of 25 to 35 percent, release of cooperative and union deductions, payment of over four years of promotion arrears, and an end to alleged victimization of lecturers in some universities such as Lagos State University, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
The Federal Government had earlier threatened to invoke the “no work, no pay” rule if ASUU refused to call off the strike.
