The federal government has ordered the implementation of a “no work, no pay” policy for striking university lecturers.
The directive was contained in a circular dated October 13 and signed by Tunji Alausa, the minister of education.
The circular was copied to the head of the civil service of the federation, pro-chancellors of all federal universities, the accountant-general of the federation, and the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Alausa said the federal government is displeased with the decision of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to initiate a nationwide strike despite ongoing negotiations and calls for dialogue.
He directed vice-chancellors of federal universities to implement the “no work, no pay” policy against ASUU members participating in the ongoing nationwide strike.
“In line with extant provisions of the labour laws, the federal government reiterates its position on the enforcement of the ‘no work, no pay’ policy in respect of any employee who fails to discharge his or her official duties during the period of strike action,” the letter reads.
“All vice-chancellors of federal universities are hereby directed to ensure strict application of this provision.”
Alausa asked VCs to conduct a roll call and physical headcount of all academic staff in their institution and submit a report indicating staff who are present and performing their official duties.
He said academic staff who are members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) not participating in the strike are exempted from this directive.
“Ensure that salary payment for the period of work stoppage is withheld from those who fail to perform their duties,” he added.
The minister said the NUC has been instructed to monitor compliance and submit a consolidated report to the ministry within seven days.
The union has been at loggerheads with the government over the service conditions of lecturers, the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, the release of withheld salaries, and sustainable funding for the revitalisation of public universities.
The government had stated that it had addressed all demands by ASUU and was open to continued negotiation to avert the strike.
Its last enforcement of the “no work, no pay” policy against ASUU was during the union’s eight-month strike in 2022.
The government withheld the salaries of lecturers for the duration of the strike, which ended with the union obeying a court order
In 2023, the government approved a partial waiver, directing the release of four months of the withheld salaries to ASUU members.
Payment for the remaining months is part of the unmet demands driving ASUU’s latest strike.