By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Federal Government has directed Vice-Chancellors of all federal universities to immediately enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy against members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) participating in the ongoing strike.
The directive, contained in a circular issued by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, expressed government’s disappointment over ASUU’s decision to continue the strike despite repeated appeals for dialogue and resolution of outstanding issues in the tertiary education sector.
The circular, referenced HME/FME/CORR.GEN./VOL.4/15, instructed all Vice-Chancellors to strictly apply relevant provisions of the Labour Laws, emphasizing that no employee should be paid for work not done during the period of industrial action.
To ensure compliance, the Ministry directed university heads to conduct a physical headcount and roll call of all academic staff, prepare detailed reports identifying those actively at work, and ensure that salaries are withheld for those absent.
However, the directive exempts members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) two academic unions not participating in the strike.
The Ministry also tasked the National Universities Commission (NUC) to monitor compliance and submit a consolidated report to the Education Ministry within seven days.
Dr. Alausa urged Vice-Chancellors to treat the directive “with utmost urgency and a deep sense of responsibility in the national interest,” stressing the need to safeguard the stability and integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system.
The latest directive marks a new phase in the standoff between ASUU and the Federal Government over issues of funding, welfare, and working conditions in public universities.