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JUST IN: Resolve ASUU crisis in four weeks, else… – NLC tells FG

NLC President Joe Ajaero 1

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to conclude all negotiations with tertiary institution-based unions or face nationwide industrial action.

The NLC president, Joe Ajaero, disclosed this during an ongoing interactive session with labour correspondents in Abuja, following a meeting between the NLC and leaders of unions from the education sector.

“We have decided to give the federal government four weeks to conclude all negotiations in this sector. They have started talks with ASUU but the problem in this sector goes beyond ASUU.

“That is why we are extending this to four weeks. If after four weeks this negotiation is not concluded, the organs of the NEC will meet and take a nationwide action that all workers in the country, all unions in the country will be involved so that we get to the root of all this.

“The era of signing agreements, negotiations and threatening the unions involved, that era has come to an end.

“The policy, the so-called policy of no work, no pay, will henceforth be no pay, no work. You can’t benefit from an action you instigated. We have discovered that most, 90% of strike actions in this country are caused by failure to obey agreements,” Ajaero said.

The NLC condemned the “no-work-no-pay” policy recently enforced by the government against members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), describing it as punitive and unfair to workers exercising their rights.

Nigeria’s higher education system continues to face chronic instability, with the latest strike by ASUU leading to the shutdown of universities nationwide.

Recall that ASUU National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, announced the strike at a press conference at the University of Abuja on Sunday after a 14-day ultimatum to the government expired. The union cited unresolved issues including staff welfare, infrastructure, salary arrears, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.

Despite several rounds of negotiations, talks have failed to prevent industrial action. Education Minister Tunji Alausa had earlier stated that discussions were in their final phase, revealing that the government released ₦50 billion for earned academic allowances and earmarked ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for a needs assessment, to be disbursed in three instalments.

However, ASUU dismissed these measures as inadequate.

The union insists on the full implementation of the 2009 agreement, the release of three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries, sustainable university funding, protection against victimisation, payment of promotion arrears, and release of withheld cooperative and union deductions.

The NLC reaffirmed its solidarity with ASUU and other tertiary education unions, calling for unity across all sectors. It also reiterated its new stance — “No Pay, No Work” — urging the government to respect collective agreements and uphold workers’ rights.

The emergency meeting is expected to define the next steps for possible nationwide action while exploring strategies to safeguard the welfare of university staff and ensure the stability and quality of Nigeria’s public tertiary education.

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