The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, National Association of Academic Technologists, and Academic Staff Union of Universities have joined forces to declare a strike across Lagos State-owned universities. The strike, which commenced at midnight on October 2, 2026, follows the non-implementation of the 2026 Federal Government-unions agreements by the Lagos State Government. The affected institutions include Lagos State University, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, and Lagos State University of Education.
The Joint Action Committee of the four unions announced the decision at a press conference in Lagos on Friday, stating that the strike was a result of the expiration of a final seven-day ultimatum issued to the state government. The ultimatum, which expired on October 2, 2026, demanded the approval and implementation of agreements reached on salaries, allowances, and welfare provisions. The unions stated that they had exhausted all avenues for dialogue with the state government, with JAC Chairman and ASUU-LASU Chairman, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, saying that their patience had been pushed to the absolute limit.
The dispute between the unions and the Lagos State Government began with negotiations on July 30, 2026, when unions met with officials of the Ministry of Establishments and Training. 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. However, the unions rejected the proposal, insisting that it fell below the 35 per cent and 40 per cent benchmarks contained in federal-level agreements. A technical committee was set up to review 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. The unions agreed that applicable allowances would be non-taxable, with implementation commencing in August or September 2026 alongside payment of arrears from January 2026.
However, the agreement was subsequently altered by government officials, with Bakare alleging that the agreed allowances were omitted and the rejected 30 per cent and 35 per cent figures reinstated. The dispute was temporarily resolved following further intervention, resulting in a final communiqué signed by both parties on August 31, 2026. 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.
The unions declared a trade dispute and issued a 14-day ultimatum on September 9, 2026, followed by a final seven-day ultimatum on September 25, 2026, which expired on October 2, 2026. The JAC stated that the month of September 2026 had drawn to a close, and September salaries were paid without the implementation of the agreed rates and the outstanding arrears. The unions are 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.
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, said the government had agreed to implement the agreement and was awaiting Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s approval for the release of funds. The strike would persist until full executive approval and implementation were granted, with Bakare stressing that an immediate, total, and indefinite strike across all Lagos State-owned universities would commence effective from midnight on October 2, 2026.
Key points
- The strike affects four Lagos State-owned universities: Lagos State University, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, and Lagos State University of Education.
- The unions are demanding a 15 per cent “Lagos factor” to cushion the high cost of living in the state.
- The Lagos State Government claims to be working to resolve the dispute, with the Commissioner for Tertiary Education stating that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s approval for the release of funds is pending.
