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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Government has threatened to invoke the “no work no work” policy on members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) who declared two-weeks warning strike yesterday.
The government urged ASUU to reconsider its position and return to the dialogue table in the best interest of students and the future of Nigeria’s education system
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in a statement, yesterday, reminded ASUU members 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 the law should academic activities be disrupted in the nation’s universities.
The Minister said: “While the government continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility, it will not abdicate its responsibility to uphold fairness and accountability in the use of public resources.”
He accused ASUU members of deliberately being disinterested in industrial peace and harmony in the university system, stressing that the Federal Government has 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 percentage of teaching allowance and significant improvements in the conditions of service of academic staff. The few remaining matters are 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.”
He noted that, though the government has made all efforts to resolve all the issues and ensure that students remain in school, ASUU is 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.” He reassured Nigerian students, parents, and the public that the federal government is firmly committed to maintaining industrial harmony in the tertiary education system.
The Minister appealed to all academic unions to embrace partnership and dialogue rather than confrontation in the collective interest of the nation’s higher education system.
He reiterated that 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.
The Minister 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.
