By Muhammad Mamman
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly criticised the federal government’s enforcement of a ‘no work, no pay’ policy against striking university lecturers, calling it unjust and counterproductive.
Speaking on Wednesday during a visit to Governor Alex Otti in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South, NLC President Joe Ajaero reaffirmed the union’s stance: “No pay, no work.”
The federal government, in a circular dated 13 October 2025 and signed by Minister of Education Tunji Alausa, directed all vice-chancellors of federal universities to apply the policy to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), who are currently on strike.
Ajaero condemned the directive, stating it was “illogical” for the government to expect productivity from workers who have not been paid.
“The root cause of these strikes is non-payment. If there’s no pay, there will be no work. You don’t fix the problem by punishing the workers—you fix it by fulfilling your obligations,” he said.
He noted that since 2009, numerous agreements between the government and university unions remain unimplemented, fuelling repeated industrial action.
The NLC leader warned that the continued neglect of the education sector was severely damaging Nigeria’s human capital and pushing skilled professionals to seek better opportunities abroad.
Ajaero announced that all education sector unions would meet on Monday to deliberate on a unified response to what he described as government “neglect and insensitivity.”
He emphasised that revitalising the education system would not only boost the economy but also promote national stability.
“No nation can develop without prioritising education. Threats and withheld salaries only worsen the crisis,” Ajaero said.
