The Federal ministry of Education has warned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), not to disrupt the academic calendar of universities by embarking on its two weeks warning strike scheduled to commence tomorrow.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa and Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed in a statement on Sunday, vowed to invoke the no work, no pay policy of government should ASUU proceed on strike, as they insisted that virtually all demands put forward by ASUU have been met.
They said: “Virtually all the concerns raised by ASUU have been addressed. These include the introduction of a big percentage of teaching allowance and significant improvements in the conditions of service of academic staff. The few remaining matters are those that rightfully fall within the jurisdiction of the governing councils of the respective universities, which have been recently reconstituted to handle such internal issues.”
The ministers jointly reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Federal Government to constructive engagement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) towards the sustainable resolution of all outstanding issues affecting the university system.
A statement made available to newsmen by the Director Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Boriowo Folasade, quoted the Ministers as saying “the Federal Government has demonstrated demonstrable sincerity, patience, and goodwill in its dialogue with the Union.”
The ministers noted that, though the government was making all efforts to resolve all the issues and ensure that students remain in school, ASUU was not operating with the same zeal.
“The government had met the deadline for presenting its position to the union as agreed, yet instead of reverting to the Ministry in continuation of dialogue, ASUU has chosen to proceed with strike action. ”
This action, the Ministers observed, does not reflect a spirit of cooperation or fairness to the students and the public, especially given the government’s demonstrable commitment and concrete steps already taken.
The Ministers further stressed that the government has continued to prioritize the welfare of university staff and the stability of the academic calendar under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
According to them, dialogue remains the most effective and sustainable path to resolving disagreements, and government remains open to engagement at any level to prevent unnecessary disruption in the education sector.
They, however, emphasized that the “no work, no pay” policy remains an extant labour law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the government would be guided by this law should academic activities be disrupted in the nation’s universities. While government continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility, it will not abdicate its responsibility to uphold fairness and accountability in the use of public resources.
The statement reassured Nigerian students, parents, and the general public that the Federal Government is firmly committed to maintaining industrial harmony in the tertiary education system. The Ministers appealed to all academic unions to embrace partnership and dialogue rather than confrontation, in the collective interest of the nation’s higher education system.
They reiterated that the government’s education reform agenda is designed to enhance teaching and research conditions, promote institutional autonomy through strengthened university governance, and ensure that the academic community thrives in an environment of mutual respect, productivity, and innovation.
The Ministers reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to work with all stakeholders to safeguard the academic calendar and prevent further disruption in the learning process. They urged ASUU to reconsider its position and return to dialogue in the best interest of students and the future of Nigeria’s education system.
