TENSION LOOMS: NLC THREATENS NATIONWIDE SHOWDOWN AS TINUBU GOVERNMENT, ASUU FACE-OFF OVER UNPAID DEMANDS

The brewing tension between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has taken a dramatic turn, as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, threatening a nationwide showdown if the grievances of university lecturers are not addressed within days.

In a strongly worded statement signed by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC accused the government of “weaponising hunger and intimidation” through the implementation of the controversial “No Work, No Pay” policy. The labour body described the government’s stance as a reckless provocation that could cripple Nigeria’s already fragile education system.

> “The commencement of ASUU’s two-week warning strike is not an act of rebellion but a desperate cry for justice,” Ajaero declared. “The Federal Government has consistently failed to honour its own agreements. The lecturers are willing to work, but the state, through its negligence, has made it impossible for them to do so with dignity.”

According to the NLC, the root cause of the crisis lies in the government’s habitual breach of collective bargaining agreements, some dating back several years. The Congress insisted that it was the government, not ASUU, that had defaulted on its obligations.

> “The breach of contract lies with the state, not the scholars,” the statement emphasised. “When a government fails to meet the commitments it freely entered into, it is effectively sabotaging the very foundation of national development.”

The NLC expressed concern that the neglect of public universities would only deepen Nigeria’s social and economic divides, warning that the education crisis could condemn millions of young Nigerians to a future of poverty and frustration.

> “Every day our classrooms remain shut, the dreams of millions of young Nigerians are deferred. This is not just about wages—it is about the soul of our nation. The fight for public education is a fight for Nigeria’s survival,” Ajaero asserted.

Reaffirming its unwavering solidarity with ASUU, the NLC vowed not to remain silent while the government “toys with the future of the nation.”

> “The struggle of ASUU is our struggle. If the government fails to act decisively before the end of this two-week warning strike, we will mobilise our structures nationwide and convene an emergency congress to determine the next line of action,” Ajaero warned.

Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has also maintained a defiant stance. Speaking to SaharaReporters, the ASUU Zonal Coordinator for Akure Zone, Dr. Adeola Egbetokun, dismissed the government’s “No Work, No Pay” threat as “a tired and failed strategy.”

> “It’s a familiar route, and our members are ready. The government should remember that there is also what we call ‘No Pay, No Work,’” Egbetokun said pointedly. “It was their insincerity and lack of commitment that pushed us here. We had already reached a near-final agreement through the Yayale Ahmed-led committee, only for the government to introduce a strange document that discarded all prior understandings.”

He noted that once the two-week warning strike expires, ASUU’s internal review mechanisms will be activated to determine the next phase of action.

The strike, declared on October 13, marks yet another flashpoint in the long-running battle between ASUU and successive Nigerian governments over issues such as unpaid allowances, poor infrastructure, and lack of respect for negotiated agreements.

In response, the Federal Ministry of Education has accused ASUU of being “uncooperative and unyielding,” while insisting that dialogue remains the only sustainable path forward.

But the NLC has made it clear that patience is running out. With the possibility of a nationwide industrial action now looming, the Tinubu administration may soon find itself confronting one of the most significant labour crises since taking office.