Tinubu Orders Physical Headcount Of Lecturers In Striking Nigerian Universities
As the nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) commenced yesterday, the President Bola Tinubu-led government has moved to enforce compliance with its directive by mandating an immediate roll call and physical headcount of all academic staff across federal universities.
In a circular dated October 13, 2025, signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and addressed to vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors, and other key education stakeholders, the government reaffirmed its position on the “no work, no pay” policy.
The circular was also distributed to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
According to the circular, vice-chancellors have been directed to conduct physical verification by taking roll call and head count of lecturers on campus to determine who is actively performing their duties and who is absent due to the industrial action.
“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 expressed the government’s disappointment over ASUU’s decision to proceed with the strike “despite ongoing engagement efforts,” adding that the administration “would no longer condone disruptions to the academic calendar.”
University administrators are now expected to compile detailed reports distinguishing between staff who are present and working, and those who have joined the strike. These records will be used to determine salary entitlements in line with the “no work, no pay” enforcement.
The circular also made it clear that academic staff who are not part of ASUU’s industrial action — specifically members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA)—“should continue to receive their full entitlements.”
Naija News House on Monday reported that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned that it may convene an emergency congress with its affiliates if the government fails to address the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following its ongoing two-week warning strike.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, the NLC condemned what it described as the government’s intimidation tactics, particularly its resort to the “No Work, No Pay” policy.
The Congress said this approach would only deepen the crisis in Nigeria’s already struggling tertiary education system.
According to Ajaero, the government’s failure to honour its own agreements with university lecturers and other education sector workers is the root cause of the current industrial action.
“The commencement of a two-week warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is a direct consequence of the Federal Government’s refusal to honour collectively bargained agreements. This action is a necessary response to the neglect of a fundamental pillar of our society,” NLC said.
The NLC had further criticised the application of the “No Work, No Pay” policy, stressing that it was the government, not the lecturers, that had breached contractual obligations.
“The breach of contract lies with the state, not the scholars. The lecturers are willing to work, but the government, by reneging on its commitments, has made it impossible for them to do so with the dignity and conditions their profession deserves,” Ajaero said.
Highlighting the broader implications of the crisis, the Congress warned that failure to address the issues could further marginalize millions of young Nigerians.
“This creates an educational divide that limits social mobility and perpetuates inequality,” the NLC noted, adding that an educated populace remains essential for national progress.
Reaffirming its solidarity with ASUU and other unions in the education sector, the NLC said it would not stand idly by while the future of the country is compromised.
“The struggle of ASUU is our struggle. The fight for public education is a fight for Nigeria’s future. We will no longer allow these unions to stand alone,” the statement concluded.
The NLC warned that if the government fails to act decisively by the end of ASUU’s two-week warning strike, it would mobilise its structures nationwide and convene an emergency congress to determine broader labour actions in support of the lecturers.
Earlier, Naija News House reported that Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) slammed the Nigerian government’s threat to invoke the ‘no work, no pay’ policy over the two-week warning strike embarked upon by lecturers.
The ASUU Zonal Coordinator for the Akure Zone, Adeola Egbetokun, faulted the Tinubu-led Nigerian government.
“Yes, it is a familiar route and our members are ready. Dr. Alausa should also know that there is what is called ‘No Pay No Work’,” he said in reaction to the government’s plan.
“We wish Dr. Alausa and his ministry good luck with the enforcement of No Work No Pay policy.”
“He should remember that it was his insincerety and lack of commitment that pushed us to this point. We had been very patient with government for more than 2 years until they came to us last week Friday with a strange document that totally jettisioned the meetings we have had with Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.”
“We had engaged in collective bargaining with this government and the committee had produced a draft agreement. Most of the provisions/proposals in the draft were concessions on the part of ASUU. Yet, government became recalcitrant,” he noted.
On what would happen if the Nigerian government fails to take any step after two weeks, he stated that internal mechanisms of the union would be invoked.
“The union leadership has a procedure for review after such expiration and that would also be done,” he further commented.
It would be recalled that on October 13, ASUU declared a two-week warning strike, citing years of unmet agreements and government neglect of the education sector.
In response, the Federal Ministry of Education accused ASUU of being uncooperative despite ongoing negotiations and repeated appeals for dialogue.
The ministry also imposed “no work, no pay” policy, reiterating that sustained dialogue remains the only path to resolving the long-standing issues.
