Lagos varsities face shutdown as four unions declare strike - Punch Newspapers

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, and the National Association of Academic Technologists have joined the Academic Staff Union of Universities to declare an immediate, indefinite strike across Lagos State-owned universities. The Joint Action Committee of the four unions announced the decision at a press conference in Lagos on Friday, stating that the strike would commence at midnight following the non-implementation of the 2026 Federal Government-unions agreements by the Lagos State Government. The affected institutions are Lagos State University, the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, and Lagos State University of Education. The unions stated that the declaration followed the expiration on Friday of a final seven-day ultimatum issued to the state government to approve and implement agreements reached on salaries, allowances, and welfare provisions. Addressing the press conference, the JAC Chairman and ASUU-LASU Chairman, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, said the unions had exhausted all avenues for dialogue with the state government. “We have exhausted every possible means to avert declaration of industrial action across state-owned universities in Lagos State, given the strategic synergy industrial harmony bears on institutional progress across Lagos State,” Bakare said. “However, our patience has been pushed to the absolute limit,” he added. “The final seven-day ultimatum expires at midnight today, Friday, 2nd October 2026.” The JAC said the dispute followed months of engagements with the Lagos State Government over the implementation of the 2026 agreements signed between the Federal Government and university staff unions. Earlier on September 15, ASUU had declared an indefinite strike across LASU, LASUED, and LASUSTECH. The academic union said its action followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the state government on August 31, demanding the domestication and implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement. ASUU maintained that its strike would remain in force until the government signed, domesticated, and implemented the applicable provisions. Recounting the timeline, the JAC chairman stated that negotiations with the Lagos State Government began when unions met with officials of the Ministry of Establishments and Training on July 30.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google He said a subsequent meeting on August 13 resulted in a government proposal for a 30 per cent salary increase for SSANU and NASU and 35 per cent for ASUU. The unions rejected the proposal, insisting that it fell below the 35 per cent and 40 per cent benchmarks contained in federal-level agreements. Bakare noted that the JAC subsequently set up a technical committee, which reviewed the agreements and reached a consensus on applicable allowances. The agreed terms included a 40 per cent Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and 10 per cent Earned Academic Allowance for ASUU, alongside monthly Readers/Associate Professorial and Professorial allowances of N70,000 and N145,000 respectively. “For SSANU and NASU, the agreement provided for a 35 per cent Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Non-Teaching Staff Allowance and a 35 per cent hazard allowance,” Bakare said. He noted that the unions agreed applicable allowances would be non-taxable, with implementation commencing in August or September 2026 alongside payment of arrears from January 2026. However, Bakare alleged that the agreement was subsequently altered by government officials. “When we met on August 24 to sign the communiqué, government officials had reverted to the rejected 30 per cent and 35 per cent figures and omitted some of the agreed allowances,” Bakare said. Drunken policeman’s bullet ended my promising career – Ex-Papa Ajasco videographer Fela FC dominate to win Independence Cup My life is in danger, woman alleges after dispute with ex-lover He stated that the dispute was temporarily resolved following further intervention, resulting in a final communiqué signed by both parties on August 31. According to him, the signed document contained the agreed rates and committed the government to implementation in September, including the payment of eight months’ arrears. The JAC suspended its planned industrial action after receiving a N50,000 palliative for university staff, giving the government time to obtain executive approval. Bakare expressed shock that the September salary cycle ended without implementation of the agreed terms. In response, the unions declared a trade dispute and issued a 14-day ultimatum on September 9, followed by a final seven-day ultimatum on September 25 that expired on Friday. “The month of September 2026 has drawn to a close, and September salaries were paid without the implementation of the agreed rates and the outstanding arrears,” the JAC said. “As a result, JAC issued a final seven-day ultimatum, effective Friday, 25th September 2026, which expires today, Friday, 2nd October 2026,” it added. Bakare said the unions were demanding immediate executive approval and implementation of the signed 2026 agreements, payment of nine months’ arrears from January to September 2026, and compliance with the non-taxable status of applicable allowances. They are also demanding a 15 per cent “Lagos factor” to cushion the high cost of living in the state. Other demands include the fulfillment of past pledges, notably a 20 per cent salary increase promised during the 2023 electioneering campaign and the release of five Marcopolo buses. The JAC maintained that the strike would persist until full executive approval and implementation were granted. “If the Lagos State Government fails to give executive approval and commence the full implementation of these agreements before the expiration of today, the Joint Action Committee will have no choice but to enforce the directive of our respective Congresses,” Bakare said. “An immediate, total and indefinite strike across all Lagos State-owned universities effective from midnight, Friday, 2nd October 2026,” he stressed. However, the Lagos State Government had stated earlier in the week that it was working to resolve the dispute. The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, told The PUNCH on Monday that the government had agreed to implement the agreement and was awaiting Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s approval for the release of funds. Sule said a financial table had been computed and the government was reordering its budget to provide the required funds. “We are only waiting for the governor’s approval, which I want to assure you we will get between now and Wednesday,” the commissioner said. “If you cross-check with them, they will tell you that we have gone far. All that is required is for the governor to sign the release of funds for us,” he added. The development comes days after staff unions in Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions suspended a month-long strike following an intervention by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The Ondo workers, comprising SSANU, NASU, and NAAT, embarked on strike on September 2 over unpaid allowances and wage structures before suspending the action on September 29 following financial commitments. Wale Akinselure Olawale Franklin Akinselure is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with 12 years of experience covering education, politics, health, environment, judiciary, metro, and community beats. He specializes in producing insightful, wide-ranging reports that inform and engage readers. His reporting reflects practical newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a dedication to accurate, reliable journalism.

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