By Ayodele Oni
A breakaway faction from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), known as Congress of University Academics, CONUA, has called on members not to participate in the strike action which commenced on Monday.
The union made its position known in a statement signed by its National President, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu.
In the statement, the union dismissed reports on social media claiming it was part of the industrial action.
The National President of ASUU, Prof. Chris Piwuna, at a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday declared the strike, saying “Compatriots of the press, it goes without saying that there is nothing sufficient on ground to stop the implementation of the ASUU-NEC’s resolution to embark on a two-week warning strike at the expiry of the 14-day notice given on the 28th September 2025.
“Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight on Monday, the 13th October, 2025. The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive as agreed at the last NEC meeting,” Piwuna said.
The federal government has however taken a position on the strike stating that it would implement the no work no pay policy against the striking lecturers.
The Minister of education declared that the ‘no work, no pay’ policy remains an extant labour law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the government will be guided by this law should academic activities be disrupted in the nation’s universities.”
The ASUU’ breakaway faction maintained that “CONUA wishes to categorically clarify that it has not declared any strike action and is not part of any ongoing strike.”
The CONUA National President restated the union’s commitment to maintaining academic stability, promoting excellence, and ensuring the smooth running of the university system through dialogue and peaceful engagement with the government and stakeholders.
Sunmonu explained that CONUA had no reason to embark on strike, noting that the union had earlier protested its exclusion from the renegotiation committee of the 2009 Agreement inaugurated in October 2024.
According to him, the protest led to a meeting with the Minister of Education on September 11, 2025, where the minister assured that the Yayale Ahmed Renegotiation Committee would be expanded to include all academic unions.
He said the Ministry of Education had since fulfilled that promise by expanding the committee, and that none of CONUA’s issues with the government had become subjects of dispute.
Sunmonu further clarified that after nationwide congresses held between September 18 and 24, members unanimously resolved that no strike action should be taken, maintaining that engagement, not disruption, remained the best path forward for the university system.
The CONUA National President urged members to continue performing their academic and administrative duties diligently. He equally appealed to students to remain focused on their studies.
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