By Ade Oyeyemi
Academic and non-academic workers in Lagos State-owned universities have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike over alleged failure by the state government to implement agreements reached with their unions.
The Joint Action Committee of the unions said the strike would begin at midnight on Saturday, October 3, unless the government addressed their outstanding demands.
The committee comprises the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, and National Association of Academic Technologists.
The affected institutions are Lagos State University, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, and Lagos State University of Education.
Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, JAC Chairman, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, said the decision followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the state government.
Bakare said the unions had spent months negotiating with the government but alleged that several agreements reached during the process had not been implemented.
He said the talks appeared to have yielded results on August 31 when the government and the unions signed a resolution covering revised allowances, tax-exempt benefits and payment of outstanding arrears alongside September salaries.
However, according to him, September salaries were paid without the agreed adjustments or the outstanding arrears.
Bakare said the situation had resulted in workers being owed nine months of arrears 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,” he said.
The JAC chairman said the unions were demanding the full implementation of the signed 2026 Federal Government of Nigeria and staff unions’ agreement across the four institutions.
They also demanded payment of the nine-month arrears and compliance with the agreed non-taxable status of negotiated allowances.
Another demand is the implementation of a 15 per cent “Lagos Factor” allowance, which the unions said was intended to address the economic pressures associated with living and working in the state.
The unions also called for the fulfilment of earlier commitments attributed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, including a 20 per cent salary increase announced in 2023 and the provision of five Marcopolo buses for students and staff.
As the strike deadline approached, the unions appealed to students, parents and civil society organisations to hold the state government responsible for any disruption to academic and administrative activities.
Bakare, however, said the unions remained open to an intervention before the deadline.
“We remain open to immediate executive action before the midnight deadline tonight,” he said, adding that urgent intervention by the governor could prevent the shutdown of the universities.
