ASUU Declares ‘No Pay, No Work’ Over Salary Delays
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially adopted a “no pay, no work” stance against the Federal Government in response to the continued delay in payment of lecturers’ salaries.
ASUU’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, disclosed this on Friday during an interview in Abuja. He accused the government of deliberately frustrating university lecturers following their withdrawal from the controversial Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
The Federal Government had earlier announced the removal of university staff—academic and non-academic—from the IPPIS platform, a system that has long been opposed by ASUU and other university unions due to various reported inefficiencies and irregularities.
Prof. Piwuna lamented that since the exit from IPPIS, lecturers have experienced consistent salary delays, unlike other government employees.
“We’re being paid late every month—sometimes more than 10 days into a new month. Now it’s June, and we’ve received nothing. How do we celebrate Sallah under these conditions?” Piwuna said.
“We want to teach, but we cannot teach on empty stomachs. Our members have resolved to invoke a no-pay-no-work policy. Lecturers in several branches are already boycotting classes until their salaries are paid.”
Meanwhile, the grievances are not limited to academic staff. Mohammed Ibrahim, President of the Joint Action Committee representing the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU), expressed similar frustration.
“We’ve written multiple letters about unpaid salaries—no responses, no explanations,” Ibrahim said.
“University workers are being treated like second-class citizens. Even the Ministries of Labour and Education have been contacted, but nothing has changed. This continued neglect is unacceptable.”
As the boycott spreads, there is growing concern about the disruption of academic activities across Nigerian universities.
