Lagos Universities: Workers Set To Take Major Action Over Unpaid Arrears

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Academic and non-academic staff of universities owned by the Lagos State Government have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike from October 3 over the alleged failure of the state government to honour agreements reached with the unions.

The Joint Action Committee, JAC, of the state-owned universities issued the warning during a media briefing on Friday, stating that its members would withdraw their services if their demands were not met.

The committee comprises the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, and National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT.

The institutions affected are Lagos State University, LASU, Lagos State University College of Medicine, LASUCOM, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, LASUSTECH, and Lagos State University of Education, LASUED.

JAC Chairman, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, said the industrial action would begin at midnight on Saturday, October 3, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the Lagos State Government.

Bakare said the decision came after months of failed negotiations, administrative setbacks and what the unions described as repeated changes in position by government officials regarding the implementation of the signed 2026 Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)/staff unions’ agreements.

He said discussions had seemingly reached a breakthrough on August 31, when the government and unions signed a resolution addressing revised allowance structures, tax-exempt benefits and the payment of outstanding arrears alongside September salaries.

However, Bakare disclosed that September salaries were paid without the agreed adjustments or the outstanding arrears.

He added that the non-implementation of the agreement had increased the outstanding arrears owed to university workers to nine months, covering January to September 2026.

“We have demonstrated unprecedented patience, maturity and commitment to peaceful dialogue. However, our patience has been pushed to the absolute limit. We have exhausted every possible administrative channel to avert this crisis,” Bakare stated.

The JAC chairman maintained that the unions’ demands were legitimate and within the financial capability of the Lagos State Government.

He said the demands included the complete implementation of the signed 2026 FGN/unions’ agreement across the four institutions, payment of the nine-month arrears from January to September 2026, and adherence to the agreed non-taxable treatment of negotiated allowances.

The unions are also seeking the introduction of a 15 per cent “Lagos Factor” allowance to cushion the economic pressures associated with living and working in Lagos.

They further demanded the implementation of earlier commitments attributed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, including the 20 per cent salary increase announced in 2023 and the provision of five Marcopolo buses for transporting students and staff.

As the strike deadline draws closer, the unions appealed to students, parents and civil society organisations to hold the state government responsible for any disruption to academic and administrative activities at the affected institutions.

“We remain open to immediate executive action before the midnight deadline tonight,” Bakare added, stressing that only urgent intervention by Sanwo-Olu could prevent the universities from shutting down from Saturday.

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