As the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) commences a two-week warning strike across public universities, the Federal Government has reiterated that the “No Work, No Pay” policy remains a standing labour law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and will guide its actions during the ongoing industrial action.

In a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, the government stated that while it continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility toward resolving lingering issues with the union, it cannot compromise the principles of fairness and accountability in the use of public funds.

“The Federal Government remains committed to maintaining industrial harmony within the tertiary education system,” the statement read. It further reassured Nigerian students, parents, and the general public that the administration would continue engaging with academic unions in good faith to sustain peace and progress in the education sector.

The Ministry also disclosed that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has appealed to all academic unions to adopt dialogue and constructive engagement rather than confrontation, in the collective interest of national development.

Meanwhile, ASUU’s National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, confirmed at a press conference on Sunday at the University of Abuja that the union would proceed with a total and comprehensive two-week warning strike.

According to Piwuna, the 14-day notice of strike issued on September 28, 2025, had expired without any meaningful response from the government. He said all ASUU branches have been directed to fully withdraw their services beginning from midnight on Monday, October 13, 2025, in line with the resolution reached at the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

“Since our notice elapsed, no concrete step has been taken by the relevant authorities to address our demands. The strike will therefore be total and comprehensive,” Piwuna declared.

Last week, the Federal Government had appealed to ASUU to shelve the planned strike, assuring that it remains committed to addressing all outstanding issues. The Minister of Education, Dr. Alausa, disclosed that the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee has been reconstituted and inaugurated to fast-track negotiations with both academic and non-academic unions in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

He further stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that every effort be made to prevent another prolonged disruption in the academic calendar of Nigerian universities.