The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its weight behind the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), condemning the Federal Government’s decision to enforce the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy against striking university lecturers.
ASUU began a two-week warning strike on Sunday, October 13, citing the government’s failure to honour the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, the non-release of withheld salaries, and the need for improved and sustainable funding of public universities.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, described the strike as an inevitable outcome of the government’s persistent breaches of negotiated agreements, accusing authorities of neglecting the education sector and provoking industrial unrest.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ajaero criticised the government’s resort to threats rather than genuine dialogue, stressing that the breakdown in the university system was a direct consequence of official indifference and disregard for collective agreements.
“Rather than engaging sincerely, the government has turned to the unproductive threat of ‘No Work, No Pay’. The breach of contract lies with the state, not the scholars,” he said. “The NLC therefore declares full solidarity with ASUU and all other unions in the tertiary education sector.”
He urged the government to seize the two-week strike window to engage constructively with ASUU and resolve the core issues at stake.
