Good day, readers! It’s Tuesday, July 08, 2025, and a wave of uncertainty is washing over Nigerian universities. Across the nation, classrooms are silent, and lecture halls sit empty. The reason? A simmering frustration over unpaid salaries has boiled over, forcing university lecturers to activate a “no pay, no work” policy.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had laid down the gauntlet weeks ago, warning the Federal Government that if June salaries weren’t promptly deposited, academic activities would come to a standstill. Their warning was clear, and today, it’s being put into action.
Leading the charge is Professor Chris Piwuna, ASUU’s national president, who confirmed that the union is enforcing the “no-pay-no-work” stance. Across the country, universities are feeling the pinch. Services are being curtailed, and the faces of many lecturers remain etched with the worry of unpaid bills.
In the heart of Jos, the ASUU chairman, Dr. Jurbe Molwus, explained that lecturers have stopped teaching and are boycotting all meetings. This decision, he clarified, stems from a mandate by the union’s National Executive Council. The rule is simple: no pay by the third day of the month, and work stops. A dedicated team has been formed to ensure that all members are adhering to the directive.
“Every month, if salaries aren’t paid by the third, we withdraw our services,” Dr. Molwus stated.
The ripple effect is being felt elsewhere. At Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi State, lecturers are also staying away from their duties. Dr. Angulu Haruna, the union chairman, expressed deep concern over what he sees as unfair treatment of university staff. While other government employees have received their dues, federal university staff are still left waiting.
“Our salaries usually spill into the first week of the next month,” Dr. Haruna explained. “Whenever we inquire, we’re told it’s due to the migration from IPPIS, and it feels like we are being treated differently than others.”
Meanwhile, at the University of Abuja, a campus source revealed that only a handful of lecturers were seen on campus, as most chose to stay away due to the salary issue.
It’s not just universities feeling the impact. Polytechnic teachers, under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), have also thrown down the gauntlet. They are urging the Federal Government to address the payment delays or risk similar actions.
