FG orders VCs to submit attendance, compliance reports as varsity Strike begins

The Federal Government has ordered vice-chancellors of federal universities to initiate immediate roll calls, headcounts, and submit detailed compliance reports on teaching staff as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike begins nationwide.

 

The directive came in a circular dated October 13, 2025, signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and addressed to key education stakeholders.

Under the circular, VCs are required to distinguish between staff physically present and those absent due to the industrial action. The government will withhold salaries from lecturers who fail to report for duty during the strike period, citing the “no work, no pay” principle under labour law.

The directive also instructs that non-participating unions such as CONUA and NAMDA be excluded from slashing of wages, ensuring their members receive full entitlements.

Though ASUU commenced its two-week warning strike on October 13 over unmet demands, such as implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, unpaid allowances, and promotion arrears, the government insists many of the union’s issues have been addressed and asserts that the strike is unjustified.

According to the Vanguard report, authorities expressed disappointment over the decision to down tools despite ongoing engagements.

By mandating compliance reports, the government appears intent on closely monitoring staff behaviour and potentially enforcing sanctions retroactively.

The circular was also copied to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Pro-Chancellors of federal universities, the Accountant-General, and the National Universities Commission (NUC), ensuring broad institutional awareness.

Critics are likely to view the directive as a punitive approach to the strike, with fears it might escalate tensions rather than encourage negotiation. University administrators face practical challenges implementing the directive, especially in campuses where teaching and administrative operations have ground to a halt.

Whether the move will compel a swift return to dialogue or deepen conflict remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the government had earlier inaugurated an expanded Tertiary Institutions Negotiation Committee, chaired by Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, in a bid to harmonise discussion and avert prolonged shutdowns across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.