The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has dismissed the Federal Government’s enforcement of the “No Work, No Pay” policy, insisting that the union will not be intimidated or divided.
Gatekeepers News reports that ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, stated this on Monday while speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.
“We don’t respond to threats, and nobody can threaten us,” Piwuna declared, stressing that the union remained united in its ongoing two-week warning strike.
He accused the government of attempting to sow division within the academic community by reaching out to other unions such as the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) and the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA).
“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. CONUA is with us, NAMDA is with us, SSANU is with us, NASU is with us. The polytechnics and colleges of education are also with us,” Piwuna said.
The ASUU president urged the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to prioritise resolving the dispute rather than issuing threats.
“He had better sit down and solve this problem or he will fail in trying to divide us,” he warned.
Piwuna, however, noted that the union was open to dialogue, revealing that the Minister of State for Labour had reached out to initiate talks.
“ASUU is willing. We are ready and available to discuss this matter once and for all,” he said.
FG Enforces ‘No Work, No Pay’
Earlier on Monday, the Federal Government ordered universities to implement the “No Work, No Pay” policy against lecturers participating in the strike.
In a circular dated October 13, signed by the Minister of Education, the government expressed disappointment over ASUU’s decision to embark on industrial action despite ongoing negotiations.
“In line with extant provisions of labour laws, the Federal Government reiterates its position on the enforcement of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy in respect of any employee who fails to discharge his or her official duties during the period of strike action,” the directive read.
The minister also instructed vice-chancellors to conduct roll calls and physical headcounts of academic staff and submit compliance reports within seven days.
He clarified that members of CONUA and NAMDA, who are not part of the strike, are exempted from the directive.
The Federal Government maintained that it had addressed all pending demands raised by ASUU, describing the strike as “unnecessary.”
ASUU, however, disagreed, saying the government had failed to make meaningful progress on key issues, including the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, improved funding for universities, and payment systems.
Background to the Strike
ASUU on Sunday declared 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.
Piwuna said the strike followed the government’s failure to meet the union’s longstanding demands.
“Our 2009 agreement, still under renegotiation after eight years, remains inconclusive. The appeal to shelve the strike came too late,” he stated.
The decision, he added, was reached during the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja.
