ASUU Defies ‘No Work, No Pay’ Policy — Vows Unity Amid Government Threats
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the Federal Government’s “No Work, No Pay” directive, declaring that no amount of intimidation will break its ranks or weaken its resolve.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made the statement on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He emphasized that the union would not bow to government pressure, insisting that the current strike enjoys unanimous support across Nigeria’s academic community.
“We don’t respond to threats, and nobody can threaten us,” Piwuna said firmly.
Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, Honourable Minister of Education, Federal Republic of Nigeria
According to him, all major academic bodies — including the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), SSANU, and NASU — are united in support of the ongoing two-week warning strike.
“He is threatening us, writing to NAMDA and CONUA, telling them they can get their salaries. He wants to divide us, but we are united in this matter,” Piwuna added.
Professor Chris Piwuna, ASUU president
Government vs ASUU: The Tension Deepens
Earlier, the Federal Government had ordered all universities to enforce the No Work, No Pay rule against lecturers participating in the strike.
The directive, signed by Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, instructed vice-chancellors to conduct roll-calls of academic staff and report compliance within seven days.
“In line with extant provisions of labour laws, the Federal Government reiterates its position on the enforcement of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy,” the circular stated.
However, Piwuna criticized the move, warning that the government’s approach could worsen the situation instead of fostering resolution. He urged the Minister to focus on dialogue, not division.
“He had better sit down and solve this problem or he will fail in trying to divide us,” he warned.
ASUU Open to Dialogue
Despite the fiery rhetoric, the ASUU President confirmed that the union remains open to genuine negotiations.
“Today, I received a call from the Minister of State for Labour. She said she has been directed to intervene and get this matter resolved. ASUU is willing and ready to discuss this matter once and for all,” he revealed.
Why the Strike?
ASUU’s nationwide two-week strike, which began Sunday, stems from what it describes as the government’s failure to fulfill agreements dating back to 2009.
Prof. Piwuna explained that the union issued a 14-day ultimatum in September, which expired without any meaningful response.
“Our 2009 agreement, still under renegotiation after eight years, remains inconclusive. The appeal to shelve the strike came too late,” he said.
The strike has now shut down academic activities in all public universities, with the union insisting that the action is a last resort to demand fairness, improved funding, and respect for prior commitments.
Comments
This post currently has no comments.