Taraba Government Enforces “No Work, No Pay” Rule Against Striking University Unions

The Taraba State Government has formally invoked the “No Work, No Pay” policy against striking unions at Taraba State University, Jalingo, in a move that signals a tougher stance in the ongoing industrial dispute affecting the institution.

In a memorandum dated March 9, 2026, the State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mike Dio Jen, directed the university authorities to implement the rule against members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) who are currently participating in the strike.

The directive, addressed to the Vice Chancellor and other relevant university bodies, cites Section 43 of the Trade Union Disputes Act, which states that employers are not obligated to pay wages to workers during periods when they are on strike. The ministry also clarified that the time spent away from work during the industrial action will not count toward pensionable service records.

According to the ministry, the decision followed several rounds of negotiations and mediation efforts that failed to produce a resolution or any commitment from the unions to suspend the strike and resume academic activities.

Despite the hardline position, the government used the memo to urge the unions to reconsider their stance and call off the strike in order to restore normal academic operations at the university. Officials argue that the continued shutdown of academic activities is harming students and undermining the stability of the institution.

The document, which bears the official seal of the Vice Chancellor’s office and the signature of the commissioner, has already been circulated to the leadership of the affected unions, including ASUU as well as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), NASU and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) for immediate compliance.

The development marks a significant escalation in the dispute between the Taraba State Government and university staff, indicating that the administration is prepared to rely on legal provisions and financial pressure to push for an end to the strike and the reopening of academic activities at Taraba State University.