No-Pay-No-Work: Lecturers return to class after June salaries are paid

Lecturers at federal universities have resumed academic activities following the payment of their June 2025 salaries by the Federal Government.

The payment of salaries, confirmed on Tuesday, signalled a resolution to the impasse between the government and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), some of whom had previously suspended work in adherence to a “no-pay-no-work” directive.

The industrial action had been provoked by consistent delays in salary payments, which union branches claimed had lasted for over five months.

These delays were linked to a transition in the payment system, as lecturers were recently moved from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), under the supervision of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

Union leaders at various universities, such as Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and Federal University Kashere, circulated internal memos to inform members of the salary disbursement and to instruct them to resume their teaching responsibilities.

A similar notice issued by the bursary department at the University of Jos confirmed that salaries had been paid, prompting lecturers there to return to their classrooms.

Reacting to the development, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that the return to classes and the general tranquillity on campuses resulted from continuous dialogue with both academic and non-academic unions.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Alausa said, “It is not by coincidence that Nigerian public tertiary institutions have remained open and stable for the past two years, something that has not happened in several decades.”

He pointed out that the administration’s strategy is based on “sustained dialogue, mutual respect, and a phased response to demands,” and assured that the Federal Government is still dedicated to addressing the needs of education sector staff.

“The welfare of both academic and non-academic staff remains a priority under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Our children are the heartbeat of the nation, and their uninterrupted education is non-negotiable,” he said.

The minister also reaffirmed that measures would continue to be taken to uphold the academic calendar and ensure continuous communication with all union bodies.