Lagos State Varsities Shutdown as Four Unions Begin Indefinite Strike

​LAGOS — Academic and administrative activities across state-owned tertiary institutions in Lagos ground to a halt today following the commencement of a total and indefinite strike by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of campus unions.

​The action, which took effect at midnight, involves the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

​The affected institutions include Lagos State University (LASU), the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), and the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED).

​Breakdown of Demands

​Addressing a press conference in Lagos, JAC Chairman and ASUU-LASU Chairman, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, stated that the unions exhausted all avenues for peaceful negotiation before arriving at the industrial action.

​The unions are pressing for several critical concessions, which include:

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• ​Implementation of 2026 Agreements: Full execution of terms reached under the federal-state framework without alterations.
• ​Outstanding Arrears: Immediate payment of nine months of accumulated arrears spanning from January to September 2026.

• ​The “Lagos Factor”: Inclusion of a 15 per cent allowance to mitigate the high cost of living within the metropolis.

• ​Unfulfilled Pledges: Fulfillment of past commitments by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, including a 20 per cent salary increment promised during the 2023 campaign and the release of five Marcopolo transit buses.

• ​Non-Taxable Status: Strict adherence to the agreed non-taxable categorization of applicable staff allowances.

​Government Response

​Prior to the expiration of the ultimatum, the Lagos State Government maintained that it was working towards an amicable resolution. The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, disclosed that a financial table had been computed and the administration was reordering its budget pending final executive approval from Governor Sanwo-Olu for the fund release.

​With the midnight deadline elapsed, however, the unions have directed their members to stay away from duty posts until full implementation is granted, plunging the academic calendar of the affected institutions into uncertainty.