ASUU
By Olamilekan Tosin
The Federal Government has warned the Academic Staff Union of Universities that it will enforce the “no work, no pay” policy if the union proceeds with its planned two-week warning strike. The strike, which began at midnight on October 13, aims to press the government to meet several demands, including the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, adequate funding for public universities, and payment of outstanding salary arrears.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, emphasized that the government has shown sincerity and goodwill in addressing ASUU’s concerns, noting that virtually all the issues raised by the union have been addressed. However, ASUU has chosen to proceed with the strike, despite the government’s efforts to resolve the issues through dialogue.
According to Alausa, the government had met the deadline for presenting its position to the union, but ASUU opted to proceed with the strike instead of continuing negotiations. The minister accused ASUU of acting in bad faith and not prioritizing students’ academic stability.
The “no work, no pay” policy is an extant labour law in Nigeria, and the government intends to enforce it should academic activities be disrupted. This stance has created tension on campuses nationwide, with students and lecturers awaiting the outcome ¹ ².
ASUU’s demands also include settlement of promotion arrears spanning four years, remittance of third-party deductions, and cessation of alleged victimization of its members. The union maintains that its action is necessary due to the government’s failure to meet its obligations despite several agreements and ultimatums.
In response to the strike, other unions like NAMDA have directed their members to disregard the ASUU strike and continue with normal academic activities. Meanwhile, the government has reiterated its commitment to constructive engagement with ASUU to find a sustainable resolution to the issues affecting the university system.
