By Erewunmi Peace

The Federal Government has warned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that it will enforce the “no work, no pay” policy if the union proceeds with its planned nationwide strike.

This warning comes shortly after ASUU declared a two-week warning strike to press home its demands over funding, unpaid allowances, and poor working conditions across Nigerian universities.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Education on Sunday, the government described the strike as “unnecessary and unjustifiable,” noting that the union had been in ongoing discussions with relevant authorities.

“While we recognize the right of workers to strike, the Federal Government will not pay salaries for periods when lecturers are absent from duty. The ‘no work, no pay’ rule remains government policy,” the ministry said.

The government further appealed to ASUU members to return to dialogue rather than disrupt the academic calendar again, emphasizing that continued strikes harm students and parents alike.

Meanwhile, ASUU insists that the government has failed to meet previous agreements, including improved welfare packages and funding for revitalizing public universities.

The union’s national president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, stated that the warning strike was to draw attention to the government’s neglect and to compel action before the situation worsens.

The coming weeks will determine whether negotiations between both parties can prevent a full-blown industrial action.