The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has staunchly condemned the Federal Government’s threat to enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy against striking university lecturers, labelling the intimidation tactic as both counterproductive and misleading. This reaction comes after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declared a two-week warning strike, a move the NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, asserted was a legitimate response to the government’s persistent failure to honour agreements reached with the union. The labour body insisted that such threats would not resolve the chronic crisis plaguing the nation’s public tertiary education system.
The NLC expressed deep concern over the persistent instability in public education, which they argue is primarily driven by chronic underfunding and the government’s consistent refusal to implement voluntarily signed collective agreements.The union described ASUU’s action as a direct consequence of years of neglect and unfulfilled promises, rather than an act of defiance. By failing to meet its obligations, the government is effectively undermining public institutions and eroding the confidence of both workers and students in the system.
Comrade Ajaero directly challenged the government’s narrative surrounding the “No Work, No Pay” policy, arguing that the true breach of contract lies with the state, not with the scholars. He maintained that lecturers are fundamentally willing to work, but the government’s reneging on its commitments has created conditions that make it impossible for them to perform their duties with the necessary dignity and professional conditions. The NLC instead upheld a principle of “No Pay, No Work,” positioning the government’s non-compliance as the root cause of the industrial action.
The Labour Congress further framed the strike as transcending a mere industrial dispute, asserting that it exposes a profound societal injustice within Nigeria. The statement highlighted a deliberate weakening of the public education sector, which disproportionately affects the children of the poor and the working class, while the elite have the privilege of sending their children to private or foreign institutions. This disparity, the NLC contended, perpetuates inequality and limits social mobility, making the fight for quality education a struggle for national equity and the future of the country.
In a show of full solidarity, the NLC declared its unequivocal support for ASUU and all other unions in the tertiary education sector, demanding that the Federal Government immediately withdraw its threats and address the core issues outlined in the negotiated agreements. The Congress issued a strong warning that if the government remains unresponsive after the two-week strike period, the NLC will not stand idly
