The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the Federal Government’s enforcement of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy, declaring that intimidation will not deter its ongoing industrial action.
ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, asserting that the union remains resolute and united despite government pressure.
"We don’t respond to threats, and nobody can threaten us," Piwuna said, accusing the government of attempting to sow division among academic unions by selectively promising salary payments.
He insisted that allied academic unions, including the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), as well as non-academic unions like SSANU and NASU, were jointly aligned with ASUU’s position.
"The government is writing to NAMDA and CONUA, telling them they can get their salaries. He wants to divide us, but we are united. CONUA is with us, NAMDA is with us," he said.
Piwuna criticised the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, urging him to address the root issues rather than issuing directives.
"He had better sit down and solve this problem or he will fail in trying to divide us," he said.
Despite the standoff, Piwuna revealed that ASUU is open to negotiations, disclosing that the Minister of State for Labour had reached out to initiate fresh talks.
"ASUU is willing. We are ready and available to discuss this matter once and for all," he said.
Earlier on Monday, the Federal Government directed universities to enforce the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy in response to ASUU’s two-week warning strike.
In a circular dated October 13, Dr Alausa instructed vice-chancellors to take roll calls and report academic staff not reporting for duty, but exempted workers under CONUA and NAMDA from sanctions.
The government argued that most of ASUU’s demands had been addressed, calling the strike unnecessary. However, ASUU maintains that there has been no substantial progress on long-standing agreements dating back to 2009.
On Sunday, ASUU commenced a nationwide comprehensive strike after its 14-day ultimatum expired on September 28.
The Union said the action was triggered by unmet commitments and delayed renegotiations.
"Our 2009 agreement remains inconclusive. The appeal to shelve the strike came too late," Piwuna said, stressing that the action was endorsed by ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC).
Public universities across the country are currently affected, with academic activities put on hold pending further dialogue between the ASUU and the government.
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