NLC Rejects Federal Government’s ‘No Work, No Pay’ Policy, Insists on ‘No Pay, No Work’

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly criticised the Federal Government’s enforcement of the “no work, no pay” policy against striking university lecturers, insisting that its position remains “no pay, no work.”

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made the union’s stance clear on Wednesday while addressing journalists after a courtesy visit to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

Ajaero argued that it was illogical for the government to expect productivity from workers whose salaries and entitlements were being withheld, describing the policy as unjust and insensitive.

“The cause is non-payment, and the consequence is no work,” Ajaero said. “You cannot owe workers and still expect them to deliver. It is the government’s failure to honour agreements that triggers these strikes in the first place.”

Root Cause of Industrial Actions

The labour leader blamed the recurring strikes in Nigeria’s education sector on the Federal Government’s refusal to implement agreements reached with unions as far back as 2009.

He announced that all unions in the education sector would meet on Monday to deliberate on a collective response to what he described as the government’s persistent neglect of the sector.

Ajaero also warned that the continued disregard for workers’ welfare was undermining human capital development, adding that threats to withhold salaries were demoralising lecturers and driving many abroad in search of better opportunities.

“Fixing the education sector is key to revitalising the economy and restoring social stability,” he added. “You cannot build a strong nation by starving its knowledge base.”

Background

The latest faceoff follows a 14-day ultimatum issued by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to the Federal Government to meet its long-standing demands, which include:

• Payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAAs)

• Release of revitalisation funds for universities

• Improved university governance and working conditions

• Fair promotions and an end to lecturer victimisation

When the government failed to act, ASUU commenced a two-week warning strike on October 13, 2025, after several unproductive negotiation meetings.

In response, the government invoked the “no work, no pay” rule, warning that lecturers participating in the strike would forfeit their salaries for the period. Officials argued that the strike violated labour laws and disrupted the academic calendar.

ASUU has, however, rejected the directive, maintaining that its demands are legitimate and long overdue. The union vowed not to be intimidated by threats, saying it was prepared to make sacrifices to secure lasting reforms in Nigeria’s university system.