The Nigeria Labour Congress has strongly criticised the Federal Government’s “no work, no pay” policy amid the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, calling it both “insensitive” and “misleading.”
Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, NLC President Joe Ajaero said the strike by university lecturers was a result of the government’s persistent failure to implement agreements it voluntarily reached with ASUU.
According to Ajaero, the neglect of the public education sector and chronic underfunding continue to worsen due to the government’s unwillingness to honour its commitments to academic workers.
“The government’s continued refusal to implement agreements voluntarily reached with lecturers and workers is undermining public tertiary institutions,” Ajaero stated.
He explained that the ongoing two-week warning strike by ASUU was a direct reaction to the Federal Government’s breach of collectively bargained agreements, describing it as a “necessary response” to official neglect of education.
Ajaero further faulted the government’s decision to threaten striking lecturers rather than pursue dialogue, dismissing the “no work, no pay” stance as counterproductive.
“This misrepresents the situation. The breach of contract lies with the state, not the scholars. The lecturers are willing to work, but the government, by reneging on its commitments, has made it impossible for them to do so with the dignity and conditions their profession deserves. The core principle remains: ‘No Pay, No Work,’” he declared.
He added that the ASUU industrial action should not be seen merely as a labour dispute but as part of a larger social crisis facing the country.
“While the children of the elite attend private institutions or study abroad, the children of the working class and the poor are left in a public education system being systematically weakened. This creates an educational divide that limits social mobility and perpetuates inequality,” Ajaero said.
“An educated populace is essential for a progressive nation, and the current approach appears designed to reserve quality education as a commodity for the privileged few.”
The NLC reiterated its unwavering support for ASUU and other unions within the tertiary education sector, calling on the Federal Government to drop its threats and take immediate steps to fulfil the terms of the existing agreements.
It warned that failure to act within the two-week strike period would compel the NLC to convene an emergency meeting with its affiliates in the education sector to formulate a broader plan of action.
“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. We demand that the Federal Government use this two-week window to present a concrete plan for the full implementation of all agreements,” the NLC said.
“The choice is clear: honour the agreements and salvage public education, or face the resolute and unified force of the entire Nigerian workforce.”
