The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticised the Federal Government’s plan to enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy against striking university lecturers, describing it as an act of intimidation that will not solve the ongoing crisis in the country’s tertiary education sector.
In a statement issued on Monday, NLC President Joe Ajaero said the two-week warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was both legitimate and necessary, given the government’s repeated failure to honour collective agreements.
Ajaero accused the government of consistently neglecting its obligations to lecturers and other workers in the education sector, arguing that this continued disregard has weakened the nation’s public universities.
“The two-week warning strike by ASUU is a direct result of the Federal Government’s refusal to implement agreements freely entered into with the union. This strike is a justified reaction to the neglect of a vital institution in our society,” Ajaero stated.
He rejected the “No Work, No Pay” directive, insisting that the government, not the lecturers, is in breach of contract.
“The fault lies with the state, not the scholars. Lecturers are ready to work, but the government’s failure to meet its commitments has made it impossible for them to do so with the dignity their profession deserves,” he added.
The NLC said the crisis goes beyond an industrial dispute, exposing deeper inequalities in Nigeria’s education system. It noted that while children of the wealthy attend private or foreign institutions, those of ordinary citizens are confined to poorly funded public universities.
“This widening educational gap restricts social mobility and entrenches inequality,” the statement said, emphasising that quality education remains essential for national development.
Reaffirming its solidarity with ASUU and other tertiary unions, the NLC urged the Federal Government to immediately address the core issues outlined in the agreements. It also warned that the Congress would convene an emergency meeting with its affiliates if the government fails to act before the end of the two-week strike.
“The struggle of ASUU is our struggle. The fight for public education is a fight for Nigeria’s future. We will no longer allow these unions to stand alone,” the NLC declared.
Earlier, ASUU had begun a two-week warning strike. In response, the Federal Government directed vice-chancellors of federal universities to enforce the “No Work, No Pay” rule against lecturers participating in the action.
The directive, contained in a circular dated 13 October 2025 and signed by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, was copied to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Permanent Secretary of Education, Pro-Chancellors of all federal universities, the Director-General of the Budget Office, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission.