The federal government has escalated the standoff with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) by ordering all vice-chancellors of federal universities to immediately enforce a “No Work, No Pay” policy. 

In a letter signed by Education Minister Tunji Alausa, the government directed university leaders to conduct roll calls and physical headcounts of academic staff. Those absent or participating in the strike are to have their salaries withheld for the period of work stoppage.  The directive also requires vice-chancellors to submit detailed reports indicating who performed duties and who did not. 

According to the circular, lecturers who belong to CONUA (Congress of University Academics) and NAMDA (National Association of Medical and Dental Academics) are exempt from the salary withholding since they are not part of the strike.  The National Universities Commission (NUC) has also been tasked to monitor compliance and deliver a consolidated report to the Education Ministry within seven days. 

The ASUU strike, declared as a two-week warning industrial action starting October 13, 2025, has shut down academic activities in many public universities across Nigeria.  The union’s demands include full implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, payment of withheld salaries, promotion and salary arrears, and sustainable funding for public universities. 

ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, dismissed the government’s directive, saying the union will not yield to threats. “We don’t respond to threats, and nobody can threaten us,” he told Channels Television’s Politics Today.  He also warned against divide-and-rule tactics involving CONUA and NAMDA. 

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared support for ASUU and criticized the “No Work, No Pay” stance. The NLC warned that failure to resolve the dispute may provoke broader labour action. 

Students across several campuses have expressed anxiety over academic disruptions, especially those nearing graduation.  In many universities, empty lecture halls and silent corridors signaled full compliance with the strike.