NLC Blasts FG Over “No Work, No Pay” Policy, Says ASUU Strike Is Justified
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the Federal Government’s decision to apply the “No Work, No Pay” policy against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), describing the move as intimidation that will only worsen the crisis in the education sector. In a statement issued on Monday, NLC President Joe Ajaero said ASUU’s two-week warning strike was a legitimate response to the government’s persistent failure to implement agreements it voluntarily signed with unions in the education sector. “The two-week warning strike by ASUU is a direct result of the Federal Government’s refusal to honour collectively bargained agreements,” Ajaero said. “This action is a necessary response to the neglect of a vital pillar of national development.” Ajaero faulted the government’s justification for the “No Work, No Pay” policy, arguing that it distorts the real situation. “The breach of contract lies with the government, not the lecturers. The scholars are willing to work, but by failing to meet its commitments, the government has made it impossible for them to do so with dignity,” he stated. According to the NLC, the ongoing struggle goes beyond industrial action and exposes a deep-rooted inequality in the nation’s education system. It noted that while children of the elite attend private or foreign institutions, the children of average Nigerians are left to suffer in underfunded public universities. “This inequality widens the educational gap, limits opportunities for the poor, and perpetuates social imbalance,” the statement read. “A functional and well-funded public education system remains the foundation for national progress.” The NLC reaffirmed its solidarity with ASUU and other education unions, urging the Federal Government to address the lecturers’ grievances instead of resorting to punitive measures. “The struggle of ASUU is our struggle. The fight for quality public education is the fight for Nigeria’s future. We will not allow these unions to stand alone,” Ajaero declared. This came after the Federal Government, in a circular dated October 13, 2025, directed vice-chancellors of federal universities to implement the “No Work, No Pay” rule against striking lecturers. The memo, signed by Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa, was copied to the Head of Civil Service, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the National Universities Commission. The directive and subsequent response from the NLC have further intensified the long-standing dispute between ASUU and the government over funding, salaries, and unfulfilled agreements that continue to plague Nigeria’s public university system.
