Jelili Gbadamosi
Academic activities have been disrupted across three Lagos State-owned universities following the declaration of an immediate and indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The affected institutions are Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH).
ASUU said the industrial action followed the failure of the Lagos State Government to domesticate and implement the December 2025 agreement reached between the Federal Government and the union.
The decision was reached on Tuesday during separate congresses of ASUU branches at the three universities.
In a joint statement signed by the ASUU-LASU Coordinator, Dr Olusegun Babalola; Acting ASUU-LASUED Coordinator, Comrade Grace Olayemi; and ASUU-LASUSTECH Coordinator, Comrade Murisiku Onigemo, the union said the strike took effect immediately.
The lecturers said the action became unavoidable after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Lagos State Government on August 31, 2026, without a satisfactory response or concrete commitment to resolve the dispute.
ASUU said it had also issued a final warning on September 10, giving the government until September 13 to commence meaningful dialogue, but the deadline elapsed without the expected engagement.
Among the union’s major demands is the full implementation of provisions contained in the December 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement across the three state-owned universities.
The demands include the domestication of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and other welfare provisions affecting serving and retired academic staff.
According to the union, it had made several attempts to resolve the matter through dialogue and had formally communicated with relevant university authorities, governing councils and the state government before resorting to industrial action.
ASUU said the strike had the backing of its national leadership and would continue indefinitely until the Lagos State Government engages the union meaningfully and takes concrete steps toward implementing the disputed provisions.
The union urged the state government to emulate governors in other states who, according to it, had taken steps to address similar issues affecting their universities.
ASUU, however, appealed to students, parents and other members of the university community to understand the reasons behind the action, expressing regret over its possible impact on academic activities and the school calendar.
The lecturers stressed that the strike was not directed at the management of LASU, LASUED or LASUSTECH, but was intended to compel the Lagos State Government to resolve the outstanding welfare and implementation issues.
Lagos State is among 20 states identified by the ASUU national leadership as yet to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement in their state-owned universities.
