ASUU Strike: Lecturer Blasts Tinubu Govt over ‘Insensitive’ No-Work-No-Pay Threat as Varsities Shut Down Nationwide

A senior lecturer at Moses Adasu University, Makurdi, Dr John Ogi, has sharply criticised the Federal Government’s plan to implement a no-work-no-pay policy as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) begins a nationwide strike.

The Federal Government on Sunday warned that the two-week industrial action by university lecturers, which started on Monday, would automatically trigger the no-work-no-pay rule.

Reacting, Dr Ogi described the government’s position as “unreasonable and insensitive,” accusing the administration of President Bola Tinubu of treating Nigerian lecturers “like Almajiris.”

“This stance disregards the root causes of industrial action and undermines the legitimate grievances of university lecturers who are demanding, not begging for, their rightful entitlements,” Ogi said.

He argued that some of the president’s policies were the result of “poor advice,” stressing that leadership should be driven by justice and dialogue rather than coercion.

“Policies that humiliate intellectuals and reduce professionals to dependence akin to Almajiri reflect a profound misunderstanding of governance and labour relations,” he added.
“This approach deepens distrust and widens the gap between leadership and the workforce. Justice, not coercion, should define the government’s response.”

The lecturer maintained that ASUU remains “stronger and more focused” and warned that any attempt to intimidate academics through outdated policies would fail.

Universities shut down nationwide

Public universities across Nigeria have now been shut as ASUU declared a total and comprehensive warning strike beginning Monday, October 13.

The union’s key demands include the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, payment of withheld salaries spanning three and a half months, revitalisation and sustainable funding of public universities, and an end to the alleged victimisation of lecturers at LASU, FUTO, and Prince Abubakar Audu University.

Other grievances include unpaid 25–35% salary arrears, promotion arrears of over four years, and the release of withheld cooperative contributions and union dues.

The latest strike comes after a nationwide protest held on August 26 to press for these same demands. ASUU says the Federal Government ignored those calls, showing what it described as a “lackadaisical attitude” toward lecturers’ welfare.

Despite claims by Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa that talks with ASUU had reached their final phase, the union rejected the government’s new proposal presented at a meeting on October 10, insisting it failed to address their core issues.