The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the Federal Government’s enforcement of the “No Work, No Pay” policy, insisting that a fairer principle would be “No Pay, No Work.”
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made this position clear on Wednesday while addressing journalists after meeting with Governor Alex Otti at his country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State.
The government, through a circular dated 13 October 2025 and signed by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, had directed vice-chancellors of federal universities to implement the policy against members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) currently on strike.
Ajaero described the directive as illogical, unjust and insensitive, questioning how productivity could be expected from workers denied their entitlements.
“The cause is non-payment, and the consequence is no work,” he said, stressing that employees should not be punished for refusing to work without pay.
He recalled that since 2009, several agreements between the Federal Government and labour unions had remained unfulfilled, leading to recurring strikes and industrial unrest. Ajaero urged the government to address these root causes instead of penalising workers.
He revealed that all education-sector unions would meet on Monday to adopt a collective position on what he called the government’s neglect of the education system.
“No nation develops without strengthening education,” he warned, lamenting that continued neglect was eroding Nigeria’s human capital base.
Ajaero also expressed concern that threats of salary withholding had demoralised teachers and lecturers, forcing many to seek opportunities abroad. He maintained that investing in education would stimulate the economy and foster national stability.
On workers’ welfare in Abia State, Ajaerocommended Governor Otti for improvements but pointed out lingering disparities in salary structures. He cited cases where some junior staff earned as much as or more than their superiors due to incomplete consequential adjustments.
He urged the state government to correct these imbalances to ensure fairness, promote staff morale, and maintain lasting industrial harmony.
