NLC Gives FG Four Weeks to End ASUU Strike or Face Nationwide Action

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the Federal Government a four-week ultimatum to resolve the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), warning that failure to do so will trigger nationwide industrial action.

The decision followed a closed-door meeting at Labour House, Abuja, on Monday, which brought together NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero, ASUU representatives, and leaders of other unions in the education sector.

Ajaero said the NLC’s move reflects its determination to protect workers’ interests and restore stability in public universities. He stressed that while negotiations with the government had resumed, previous agreements were often ignored.

“We have decided to give the federal government four weeks to conclude all negotiations in this sector. Talks with ASUU have begun, but the challenges go beyond ASUU alone,” Ajaero said. “If the negotiation is not concluded within four weeks, the NEC organs will meet to take nationwide action involving all workers and unions in the country to address the root of the problem.”

He condemned the federal government’s no-work-no-pay policy, describing it as punitive and counterproductive. “The policy of no work, no pay will henceforth be no pay, no work. You cannot benefit from an action you instigated. Most strike actions in this country arise from failure to honour agreements,” he added.

ASUU has maintained several demands, including full implementation of the 2009 agreement, payment of three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries, sustainable funding for universities, protection from victimisation, settlement of outstanding promotion and salary arrears, and release of withheld cooperative and union deductions.

Leaders of other unions, including the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), were also present at the meeting.

Ajaero insisted that the era of unfulfilled agreements and repeated delays in implementing key demands had come to an end, signaling a tougher stance from the organised labour movement.