The Federal Government has accused the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of delaying the disbursement of N50 billion allocated for the revitalisation of public universities. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this known during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, where he said most of ASUU’s longstanding demands have already been addressed by the current administration. Meanwhile the government has reaffirmed its resolve to implement the “no work, no pay” policy as the nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, began on Monday. This is just as the government has directed vice-chancellors of all federal universities to ensure full compliance with the labour law. The directive was contained in a circular dated October 13, 2025, signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and distributed to key education stakeholders including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, pro-chancellors of federal universities, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC.
According to the circular, the government expressed disappointment over the union’s decision to embark on strike despite ongoing engagement efforts, warning that it would no longer condone disruptions to the academic calendar. “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 directed vice-chancellors to immediately conduct roll calls and physical headcounts of academic staff in their institutions. They are to compile detailed reports identifying those present and performing their duties and those absent due to the strike. Salaries of staff who fail to work are to be withheld for the duration of the industrial action. The minister, however, clarified that members of the Congress of University Academics, CONUA and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics, NAMDA, who are not participating in the strike, should continue to receive their full entitlements. The NUC has been tasked with monitoring compliance and submitting a consolidated report to the Ministry of Education within seven days. “Please treat this matter with utmost urgency and responsibility in the national interest,” the circular urged.
ASUU had on Sunday declared a two-week warning strike beginning Monday, October 13, to press home its demands. These include the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement, release of withheld salaries, revitalisation funding for public universities, payment of promotion arrears, and settlement of outstanding salary differentials.
The federal government has, however, maintained that most of ASUU’s demands have been addressed and insists the strike is unjustified. Alausa dismissed claims that the government has been slow or unwilling to meet the union’s requests, insisting that the Tinubu administration has maintained consistent engagement with ASUU since assuming office. “With all due respect to the president of ASUU, what he said about the three weeks and the government not responding, it’s not true. We have addressed most of these issues in an ongoing manner. There was never a time when we were delaying ASUU at all. I told them that with this government, we would negotiate with all truthfulness with you,” he said. Alausa explained that the Tinubu administration inherited the needs assessment programme and budgeted N150 billion for it in 2025, to be released in three tranches. According to him, the first tranche has already been disbursed, which is N50 billion, but the funds remain unused due to ASUU’s internal disagreements on how the money should be shared.
“I met with ASUU that the first tranche has been released, but then there was a little bit of a nomenclature change. It is ASUU themselves that have delayed the release of this money to their various bank accounts. That money has been sitting in the needs assessment account for almost six weeks now,” he said. The minister noted that the government has also made payment of N50 billion in earned academic allowances and the release of funds under the needs assessment programme. The minister urged ASUU to cooperate with the government and allow the funds to be disbursed to institutions to improve facilities, stressing that President Tinubu’s administration has demonstrated commitment to revitalising the university system. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike on Monday, October 13, after accusing the Federal Government of neglecting its long-standing demands despite multiple opportunities for dialogue. The union’s president, Professor Chris Piwuna, said the decision followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued on September 28, after a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) held in Sokoto. He explained that ASUU had given the government a three-week window to address key grievances but received no concrete response within that period.
FG moves to enforce ‘No Work, No Pay’ on striking lecturers, accuses ASUU of delaying tactics on release of N50bn university revitalisation fund
