The Federal Government has directed vice-chancellors of all federal universities to compile and submit detailed attendance and compliance reports as the two-week warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) enters its second day.
In a circular dated October 13, 2025, and signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the government reaffirmed its resolve to enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy against lecturers participating in the industrial action.
The directive, copied to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the National Universities Commission (NUC), urged VCs to ensure strict adherence to labour laws by keeping records of those who report for duty and those who join the strike.
“In line with existing labour regulations, any employee who fails to discharge official duties during a strike period will not be entitled to remuneration for that period,” the circular stated.
Alausa further instructed university administrators to conduct roll calls and physical headcounts of all academic staff, withholding the salaries of those who fail to work. However, he clarified that members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), who are not part of the strike, should continue receiving full pay.
ASUU had on Sunday announced the nationwide warning strike to demand the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement, release of withheld salaries, revitalisation funding, and payment of promotion arrears and salary differentials.
The union also accused the government of failing to honour previous agreements, saying the warning strike is a prelude to a total shutdown if talks do not resume in good faith.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has maintained that most of ASUU’s demands have already been addressed and described the strike as “unjustified.”
Across the country, university campuses were deserted on Monday, with lectures and examinations suspended. From Abuja to Jos, Ilorin, Calabar, and Ibadan, academic activities came to a halt as lecturers withdrew from duty.
At the University of Abuja, most classrooms remained locked despite claims by CONUA members that they were teaching. ASUU branches at Unilorin, Kwara State University, FUNAAB, TASUED, OOU, EBSU, AE-FUNAI, ABSU, UNICAL, and UNICROSS all confirmed compliance.
“We have fully complied with the directive from our national body,” said Dr. Adefemi Afolabi, ASUU Chairman at the University of Ibadan, confirming a complete shutdown of academic activities.
At Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the branch chairman, Prof. Anthony Odiwe, said the strike was a collective decision:
“No one is doing anyone a favour. We are all suffering the same humiliation from government.”
Partial compliance was, however, reported at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), where students sitting for ongoing examinations were allowed to complete their papers before the strike fully commenced.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) condemned the Federal Government’s threat to invoke the No Work, No Pay policy, warning that intimidation would not resolve the lingering crisis in public universities.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said the government’s continued breach of signed agreements was eroding trust and worsening the education system.
“The strike is not defiance but a legitimate response to years of neglect. Rather than engaging in good faith, the government has resorted to threats,” Ajaero said.
He urged the Federal Government to return to the negotiation table instead of punishing lecturers for exercising their labour rights.
As the standoff continues, universities across Nigeria remain crippled, leaving students stranded and the nation’s academic calendar once again hanging in uncertainty.
