~“No Pay, No Work” Policy Begins as UNIJOS, UNIABUJA Join Strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed all its branches nationwide to suspend academic and administrative services in protest over the delayed payment of June 2025 salaries, citing enforcement of its long-standing “No Pay, No Work” resolution.
The strike action, which has already begun at the University of Jos and the University of Abuja, was confirmed on Monday by ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, in a statement to Tribune Online. He explained that the action is in line with a National Executive Council (NEC) decision that mandates withdrawal of services if salaries are delayed beyond the third day of any month.
“What they are doing is just enforcing a NEC resolution,” Prof. Piwuna said. “Certainly, our salaries are delayed for a week and sometimes 10 days before our members receive the paltry amount we get to help us carry out our duties well. Therefore, we agreed that if there is no pay, there will be no work.”
Prof. Piwuna expressed frustration over the Federal Government’s handling of salary payments, describing the indifferent attitude of some officials, particularly at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, as the root of the recurring problem.
He noted that since lecturers were migrated from the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), salary delays have worsened, placing financial strain on university staff.
The union said it had exhausted all avenues of dialogue, having met with both the Minister of Education and the Accountant General, but without any concrete resolution.
“All those concerned are aware that this thing has been happening. We’ve had meetings with them to express our dissatisfaction, and they have not taken any action,” Piwuna stated. “We want to work, but we cannot because they have not allowed us to work.”
He also insisted there was no technical justification for the delays, noting that once funds eventually reach universities, disbursement proceeds without issues — pointing to deliberate bureaucratic bottlenecks as the cause.
“The platform is working well, but those who make it work are not willing to make it work. We think it’s a deliberate act; that is the point we are making,” the ASUU President said.
ASUU is also demanding the immediate release of N10 billion in outstanding Earned Academic Allowance (EAA). Prof. Piwuna revealed that while the government pledged N50 billion for the EAA, only N40 billion has been disbursed.
“We hope that this is paid quickly so that we do not have to fight over it,” he warned, signaling the possibility of further industrial action if the demand is not met.
At the University of Jos, ASUU branch chairman Jurbe Molwus confirmed the suspension of lectures and meetings by members due to the non-payment of June salaries. He said the branch congress had ratified the NEC position and that a strike monitoring team had been activated to ensure full compliance.
“Anytime salaries are not paid by the third day of the month, we will withdraw our services until payment is made,” Molwus said.
As the strike gains traction, concerns are mounting over disruptions to academic calendars across the country’s public universities. With the federal government yet to issue an official response, stakeholders fear a repeat of the prolonged ASUU strikes that have in the past crippled the nation’s tertiary education system.
