The recent warning by the Federal Government to invoke the “No Work, No Pay” policy against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has once again exposed the government’s recurring failure to engage meaningfully with one of its most strategic partners in national development, the education sector.
The “No Work, No Pay” rule, in principle, is designed to discourage industrial actions, but in Nigeria, it has often been used as a weapon of intimidation rather than a tool for negotiation. While lawful, its implementation cannot substitute for genuine dialogue or sound governance. Applying it to ASUU at this time risks escalating tensions and prolonging the academic instability already bedevilling public universities.
The nation’s tertiary institutions are struggling under decades of neglect, from dilapidated infrastructure to underfunded research. Threatening lecturers with withheld salaries neither motivates productivity nor demonstrates the government’s commitment to quality education. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has already declared its solidarity with ASUU, warning that any attempt to punish lecturers for legitimate industrial action could provoke nationwide resistance.
Such escalation would further strain an already fragile economy and disrupt the social fabric that holds the education sector together.
Beyond the industrial dispute lies a deeper moral question: how can a government that struggles to fund public education find it convenient to penalize those demanding accountability and improvement? Nigeria’s public universities mirror the state’s waning investment in human capital.
Beyond the industrial dispute lies a deeper moral question: how can a government that struggles to fund public education find it convenient to penalize those demanding accountability and improvement? Nigeria’s public universities mirror the state’s waning investment in human capital.
Chronic underfunding has created overcrowded lecture halls, obsolete laboratories, and demoralized staff. Students are the ultimate victims, losing semesters, losing motivation, and often losing faith in the system altogether.
The government’s adversarial posture only deepens this crisis. Instead of addressing systemic problems, the authorities risk perpetuating a cycle where every new strike becomes a replay of old grievances. What Nigeria needs now is not punishment but partnership.
The government must rebuild trust with ASUU by honouring existing agreements, engaging in sustained dialogue, and committing to long-term reforms that will make the university system more efficient and globally competitive.
Education is not an expense; it is an investment in the nation’s future. Threats of “No Work, No Pay” may silence dissent temporarily, but they cannot resolve the underlying issues that continue to cripple Nigeria’s public universities.
The future of this country depends on a well-educated generation — one that cannot emerge from classrooms perpetually shut by mutual distrust.
The government’s adversarial posture only deepens this crisis. Instead of addressing systemic problems, the authorities risk perpetuating a cycle where every new strike becomes a replay of old grievances. What Nigeria needs now is not punishment but partnership.
The government must rebuild trust with ASUU by honouring existing agreements, engaging in sustained dialogue, and committing to long-term reforms that will make the university system more efficient and globally competitive.
Education is not an expense; it is an investment in the nation’s future. Threats of “No Work, No Pay” may silence dissent temporarily, but they cannot resolve the underlying issues that continue to cripple Nigeria’s public universities.
The future of this country depends on a well-educated generation — one that cannot emerge from classrooms perpetually shut by mutual distrust.
Until the government and ASUU replace confrontation with cooperation, Nigeria’s tertiary education system will continue to suffer, and with it, the nation’s progress.
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