The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has turned down the Federal Government’s “No Work, No Pay” decree, not yielding to blackmail as its two-week notice strike paralyses academic work in all public universities in Nigeria.
On Channels Television’s Politics Today, ASUU President Professor Chris Piwuna declared that the union is resolute and is not intimidated by whatever the government is doing. “We don’t react to threats, and no one can threaten us,” he stated.
Piwuna charged the government with trying to split the academic community by writing to institutions like the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) and Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and requesting all university unions to stand together.
He ordered Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, to sit down and resolve the crisis rather than threaten. “He should sit down and put an end to this thing, or else he will end up failing in attempting to divide us,” warned Piwuna.
The ASUU leader went on to say that the union had agreed to negotiate, as the Minister of State for Labour had made a call to start discussions.
Strike Brings Campuses Across the Country to a Standstill
The warning strike, which started on Monday following the expiration of a 14-day notice, has disrupted final semester examinations and suspended lectures in the majority of public universities.
Ranging from Benin University to Jos University, and Federal University of Technology Minna to Taraba State University, there was overwhelming compliance as reported. Lecture theatres and examination halls stood empty, students stranded and helpless over what lies ahead for their academic future.
At Nasarawa State University and the Federal University Dutse, the ongoing tests were suspended. In some, such as the University of Maiduguri, the students went ahead with examinations in expectation of official directives from local ASUU branches.
Last-year students on various campuses complained of fear of being late to graduate and be mobilized by NYSC.
NLC Supports ASUU, Refuses Government Coercion
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reaffirmed its total solidarity with the strike by ASUU, terming it as “justified and necessary.”
It was in a Joe Ajaero-signed document that the labour center blamed the government for consistent abandonment and failure to respect agreements reached since 2017. The NLC also faulted the “No Work, No Pay” policy, affirming that it had the potential of increasing tensions in the education sector.
The lecturers are ready to work, but it is now impossible for them to do so with dignity from the government. The choice is evident respect the bargains and preserve public education or face a unified Nigerian labor,” the statement issued.
FG Directs Vice-Chancellors to Impose Policy
While the Federal Government, in a circular by Education Minister Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, ordered all the vice-chancellors of federal universities to enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy, with dismay that ASUU went into industrial action despite appeals for negotiations.
Widespread Impact Across Regions
North to south, academic life has come to a halt.
UNorth-West & North-East: Every university in Katsina, Kebbi, Bauchi, and Gombe universities all assured complete compliance, with examination suspended and students vacating campuses.
North-Central: FUT Minna, IBB University Lapai, and University of Lafia ASUU branches all assured absolute compliance.
South-East: UNIZIK lecturers, EBSU, and UNICAL lecturers all joined the strike, leaving students in limbo.
South-West: FUNAAB, TASUED, and OOU all closed academic activities outright.
With the strike already in its second day, lecturers and students wait with bated breath for the next government move. Meanwhile, the classrooms remain empty and the fate of Nigeria’s university system lies in suspension.
