FG Orders VCs To Submit Attendance Reports As University Strike Begins.

BAT.

The federal government has reiterated its determination to enforce the "no work, no pay" policy as the nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) commenced yesterday. It also instructed vice-chancellors of all federal universities to ensure full adherence to labour regulations.

This directive was issued in a circular dated October 13, 2025, signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and sent to major education stakeholders, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, pro-chancellors of federal universities, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC.

According to the circular, the government expressed disappointment over ASUU’s decision to embark on strike despite ongoing dialogue efforts.

It further warned that it would no longer tolerate disruptions to the academic calendar.

“In line with existing labour regulations, any employee who fails to discharge official duties during a strike period will not be entitled to remuneration for that period,” the circular stated.

Dr. Alausa directed vice-chancellors to immediately conduct roll calls and physical headcounts of academic staff in their institutions.

They are to compile detailed reports identifying those who are present and carrying out their duties, as well as those absent due to the strike. Salaries of staff members who fail to work are to be withheld for the duration of the industrial action.

However, the minister clarified that members of the Congress of University Academics, CONUA, and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics, NAMDA, who were not participating in the strike, should continue to receive their full entitlements.

ASUU had on Sunday declared a two-week warning strike starting Monday, October 13, to press home its demands, which include the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement, release of withheld salaries, revitalisation funding for public universities, payment of promotion arrears, and settlement of outstanding salary differentials.

The Federal Government, however, maintained that most of ASUU’s demands had been addressed, insisting that the strike was unjustified.

Campus Activities Stall At UniAbuja As ASUU Strike Begins

Academic activities at the University of Abuja, UniAbuja, have slowed to a near standstill following the commencement of the nationwide strike declared by ASUU.

Although members of CONUA claimed they continued with scheduled lectures despite the strike, most classrooms were found locked, with no visible teaching activity taking place.

Prof. Abdul Buba, Chairman of CONUA, UniAbuja chapter, stated, “CONUA remains deeply committed to academic stability, excellence, and the smooth functioning of Nigeria’s universities through constructive dialogue and peaceful engagement with government and all stakeholders.

“Our members are hereby urged to continue performing their academic and administrative duties diligently — to report to work, engage with students, and carry out their professional responsibilities as expected. Your steadfastness and integrity remain vital to sustaining standards in our higher education system.”

UniJos Joins Warning Strike, PGD Students Stranded

The University of Jos branch of ASUU also joined the strike, disrupting academic activities for postgraduate students. Undergraduate students of the institution are currently on break.

Unilorin, KWASU Join Nationwide Strike

The University of Ilorin and Kwara State University, both in Kwara State, also joined the nationwide strike declared by ASUU’s national body.

Both universities made the decision after holding marathon congresses on Monday.

Chairman of ASUU at the University of Ilorin, Dr. Alex Akanmu, confirmed this in an interview, saying, “We are committed to the ideals of the strike, so we have joined the nationwide strike.”

Similarly, the Chairman of ASUU at Kwara State University, Dr. Abdulganiyu Salau, confirmed the same development.

Strike Paralyses Academic Activities At FUNAAB, TASUED, OOU

Academic activities at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB; Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED; and Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, were crippled as lecturers joined the nationwide strike.

Chairman of the TASUED chapter of ASUU, Dr. Adewale Ositoye, confirmed his chapter’s participation in the strike. Sources from the FUNAAB and OOU chapters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also confirmed that they had joined the strike following the directive of the union’s national leadership.

ASUU Strike Shuts Down EBSU, AE-FUNAI

Lecturers at Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, EBSU, and Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, AE-FUNAI, Ebonyi State, have joined the nationwide strike.

Chairperson of EBSU ASUU, Dr. Joseph Igwe, stated that all academic activities in the university had been suspended pending further instructions from the national body.

At ABSU

Chairman of ASUU, Abia State University, ABSU, Uturu branch, Dr. Chidi Mbah, confirmed that lecturers at the institution had joined the two-week warning strike declared by the national leadership.

He assured that lecturers had fully complied with the directive and further noted that there was no CONUA presence in the university.

He said, “We have fully complied with the strike. I don’t know about CONUA. There is no CONUA in ABSU.”

UNICAL, UNICROSS Join Strike

Lecturers at the University of Calabar, UNICAL, and the University of Cross River, UNICROSS, also joined the strike.

The chairman of the UNICAL branch, Professor Peter Ubi, confirmed this in a telephone interview in Calabar yesterday.

Similarly, the chairman of the UNICROSS branch, Dr. Patrick Ushie, stated that their members would participate in the strike since they operate under the same consolidated university salary structure as other federal institutions.

UI Suspends Academic Activities

The University of Ibadan, UI, chapter of ASUU, also joined the nationwide warning strike yesterday, bringing all academic and related activities to a halt.

There was total compliance with the directive as lecture halls and offices were locked, and the once-busy campus witnessed minimal human and vehicular movement.

Confirming the development, the chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter, Dr. Adefemi Afolabi, said, “There is full compliance with the directive from our national body. The warning strike commenced at midnight on Sunday and will continue until we receive further instructions from the union.”

Compliance Is Imminent – OAU ASUU Chair

Members of ASUU, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU branch, also joined the two-week warning strike declared by the national body.

The branch chairman, Professor Anthony Odiwe, stated that their members had complied with the directive as of noon yesterday.

“Well, our members would have to comply with the directive because it is a collective decision and an issue we are all battling with, so there is no option but to comply with it. No one is doing another person a favour, we are all suffering the same humiliation from the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the Congress of University Academics, CONUA, Professor Henry Oripeloye, noted that members of the union went about their regular duties, explaining that classes had not resumed fully as students were yet to return for lectures.

Partial Strike At BUK

At Bayero University Kano, BUK, the strike was reported to be partial, as some students sitting for examinations were permitted to complete their papers.

According to student sources, the strike had begun, but examinations were allowed to continue before full compliance took effect.

You Can’t Intimidate ASUU With ‘No Work, No Pay’—NLC Tells FG

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticised the Federal Government’s threat to enforce the “no work, no pay” policy against striking university lecturers, describing it as intimidation that would not resolve the ongoing crisis in public universities.

Reacting to the two-week warning strike declared by ASUU, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said, “The continued refusal to implement voluntarily signed agreements is undermining public tertiary institutions and eroding confidence in the system.

“The commencement of the two-week warning strike by ASUU is a direct consequence of the federal government’s failure to honour these collectively bargained agreements. The strike is not an act of defiance but a legitimate response to years of neglect and unfulfilled promises.

“Rather than engaging in good faith to resolve the crisis, the government has resorted to the unproductive threat of ‘No work, no pay.’ This narrative is misleading,” the NLC said.