The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa and his counterpart, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed have sent a strong warning to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) emphasizing that the “no work, no pay” policy remains an extant labour law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the government would be guided by this law should academic activities be
disrupted in the nation’s universities.
Director Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
The Ministers informed that while government continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility, it will not abdicate its responsibility to uphold fairness and accountability in the use of public resources.
They stated that the Federal Government had demonstrated demonstrable sincerity, patience, and goodwill in its dialogue with the Union, noting that virtually all the concerns raised by ASUU have been addressed.
These include the introduction of a big percentageof teaching allowance and significant improvements in the conditions of service of academic staff. The few remaining matters were those that rightfully fall within the jurisdiction of the governing councils of the respective universities, which have been recently reconstituted to handle such internal issues.
They noted that, though the government was making effort resolve all the issues and ensure that students remain in school, ASUU was not operating with the same zeal.
“The government had met the deadline for presenting its position to the union as agreed, yet instead of reverting to the Ministry in continuation of dialogue, ASUU has chosen to proceed with strike action. This action, the Ministers observed, does not reflect a spirit of cooperation or fairness to the students and the public, especially given the government’s demonstrable commitment and concrete steps already taken”, Boriowo said.
The Ministers further stressed that the government had continued to prioritize the welfare of university staff and the stability of the academic calendar under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. According to them, dialogue remains the most effective and sustainable path to resolving disagreements, and government remains open to engagement at any level to prevent unnecessary disruption in the education sector.
The statement reassured Nigerian students, parents, and the general public that the Federal Government was firmly committed to maintaining industrial harmony in the tertiary education system. The Ministers appealed to all academic unions to embrace partnership and dialogue rather than confrontation, in the collective interest of the nation’s higher education system.
They reiterated that the government’s education reform agenda is designed to enhance teaching and research conditions, promote institutional autonomy through strengthened university governance, and ensure that the academic community thrives in an environment of mutual respect, productivity, and innovation.
They also reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to work with all stakeholders to safeguard the academic calendar and prevent further disruption in the learning process. They urged ASUU to reconsider its position and return to dialogue in the best interest of students and the future of Nigeria’s education system.
