NLC, Education Unions declare ‘No Pay, No Work’, issue Four-Week ultimatum to FG

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliate education unions have declared a ‘no pay, no work’ stance in reaction to the Federal Government’s enforcement of its ‘no work, no pay’ policy following the ongoing two-week warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The labour body also issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to conclude all outstanding renegotiations related to the 2009 agreements with the various education unions.

The unions involved include ASUU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), and the Colleges of Education Staff Union (COESU), among others.

Speaking after a joint meeting in Abuja on Monday, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said it was unanimously agreed that the government must be held accountable for its consistent failure to honour signed agreements with the unions.

Ajaero said, “The era of government signing agreements and reneging on them while threatening unions is over. The NLC, after extensive deliberations with unions in the tertiary education sector, has resolved to work with them to find lasting solutions to the recurring crises that have crippled the sector for years.”

He emphasized that the NLC would establish a coordinated framework for engagement to ensure the full implementation of agreements, proper funding of education in line with UNESCO’s recommendation of 25 to 26 percent budget allocation, and respect for collective bargaining rights.

Ajaero also criticized government representatives who attend negotiations without the authority to make binding decisions. “Henceforth, no union will attend any meeting with government officials who lack mandates. You cannot finish negotiations, sign agreements, and then turn back to renege — never again,” he warned.

He announced that the NLC and its affiliates would embark on a nationwide campaign to press home their demands and give the Federal Government four weeks to finalize all negotiations across the sector.

“If after four weeks the negotiations are not concluded, the NLC organs will meet to decide on nationwide action involving all workers and unions,” Ajaero stated.

He further dismissed the ‘no work, no pay’ directive, insisting that it would now be “no pay, no work,” arguing that most strike actions were triggered by the government’s refusal to honour agreements.

“You can’t instigate a crisis and then punish the other party. It’s a cause-and-effect situation. The person who caused the problem should be ready to face the consequences. You can’t beat a child and ask the child not to cry,” Ajaero added.