By Mahdi Waziri Isa
In a decisive move to avert an academic shutdown, the Federal Government has declared it will enforce the “no work, no pay” rule should university lecturers proceed with their planned strike. The warning was delivered jointly by the Ministers of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa and Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmed on Sunday.
The joint statement partly reads, “The ‘no work, no pay’ policy remains an extant labour law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the government will be guided by this law should academic activities be disrupted.”
The government’s statement asserted that it has already addressed the core of ASUU’s grievances, stating: “The Federal Government has demonstrated demonstrable sincerity, patience, and goodwill in its dialogue with the Union,” positioning the threatened strike as an unreasonable action.
The ministers expressed disappointment that ASUU would consider disrupting the academic calendar despite government efforts.
“Despite these efforts, ASUU has opted for strike action. This action does not reflect a spirit of cooperation or fairness to the students and the public,” the statement read, emphasizing that the government had fulfilled its timeline for presenting its position.
The ministers clarified that remaining issues fall within the mandate of the newly reconstituted university governing councils, suggesting ASUU should redirect its concerns to these bodies.
Despite the hardline stance, the statement concluded with an appeal for continued dialogue, noting that the “government remains open to engagement at any level to prevent unnecessary disruption in the education sector.”