The ministers cautioned that the “no work, no pay” policy remains a valid labour law and would be applied if universities are shut down.
The Federal Government has insisted that its 'no work, no pay policy' will be implemented against striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members.
This is as the union embarked on a warning strike this Monday.
In a joint statement released on Sunday, Minister of Education Maruf Tunji Alausa and Minister of State for Education Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmed said the government remains committed to resolving ASUU’s concerns through continued dialogue.
“The Federal Government has demonstrated sincerity, patience, and goodwill in its discussions with the Union,” the statement said.
According to the ministers, several of ASUU’s key demands — including enhanced teaching allowances and better conditions of service — have already been addressed.
They added that other unresolved matters fall under the authority of university governing councils, which have been reconstituted to handle them.
“Despite these efforts, ASUU has chosen to embark on strike action, a decision that fails to reflect fairness to students or the public,” the statement read.
Reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda to maintaining academic stability, the ministers cautioned that the “no work, no pay” policy remains a valid labour law and would be applied if universities are shut down.
They urged ASUU to reconsider its stance and return to the dialogue table, emphasizing that “the government remains open to engagement at all levels to avoid unnecessary disruption in the education sector.”