NLC Gives Federal Government Four-Week Deadline to Resolve Tertiary Education Disputes, Warns of Nationwide Strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress has set a four-week ultimatum for the Federal Government to conclude negotiations with all unions representing tertiary institutions, threatening nationwide industrial action if talks fail.

NLC President Joe Ajaero, addressing labour correspondents in Abuja, criticised the government’s “no-work-no-pay” policy, calling it punitive against Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members who went on strike.

“We are giving the federal government four weeks to conclude all negotiations in this sector. Talks have started with ASUU, but the issues go beyond them,” Ajaero said. “If no resolution is reached within four weeks, the NEC will convene, and all unions across the country will mobilise. The era of threatening unions is over.”

He stressed a principle of “No Pay, No Work,” insisting that workers should not be penalised for unfulfilled government agreements. “Most strike actions in this country stem from the government’s failure to honour agreements,” he added.

The warning comes as ASUU continues its nationwide strike over unresolved issues including staff welfare, infrastructure, salary arrears, and full implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.

Despite the government releasing N50bn for earned academic allowances and allocating N150bn in the 2025 budget for a needs assessment, ASUU considers these measures inadequate. The union is demanding full implementation of the 2009 agreement, release of withheld salaries and cooperative deductions, and sustainable funding for universities.

The NLC reiterated its full support for ASUU and other tertiary education unions, urging collective action to protect workers’ rights and maintain the quality and continuity of public tertiary education in Nigeria.