The Lagos university strike has begun after four major university workers’ unions declared an immediate and indefinite industrial action across Lagos State-owned universities.
The unions announced the action after the Lagos State Government failed to implement agreements covering salaries, allowances and other welfare issues. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the unions made the announcement on Friday, October 2, 2026, after its final seven-day ultimatum expired.
The unions involved are 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).
According to the JAC, the strike took effect from midnight on Friday. The unions said they had exhausted several attempts to resolve the dispute through discussions with the state government.
Lagos University Strike Affects Four State-Owned Institutions
The Lagos university strike affects four institutions owned by the Lagos State Government.
They 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).
The unions said the dispute followed months of discussions with government officials over the implementation of agreements reached between the Federal Government and university staff unions.
The negotiations with Lagos State officials began in July. During one of the meetings, the government proposed a 30 per cent salary increase for SSANU and NASU members and a 35 per cent increase for ASUU members.
However, the unions rejected the proposal. They argued that the figures did not match the salary rates contained in the agreements they wanted the state government to implement.
The JAC later formed a technical committee to examine the agreements and work out the applicable allowances for workers in the state-owned universities.
The unions said both sides eventually reached an agreement after further discussions. They also said the parties signed a final communiqué on August 31.
Unions Demand Salary Arrears and Allowances
The unions now want the Lagos State Government to implement the agreement fully and pay outstanding arrears.
According to the JAC, the August 31 agreement provided for new salary rates and allowances. It also required the government to begin implementation in September and pay arrears dating back to January 2026.
The unions said the government failed to apply the agreed rates when it paid September salaries. They also said the government did not pay the outstanding arrears.
The JAC therefore issued another ultimatum in September. It first declared a trade dispute and later gave the government a final seven-day deadline on September 25.
That deadline expired on October 2 without the unions receiving what they considered full implementation.
The unions are now demanding payment of nine months of arrears covering January to September 2026. They also want the government to maintain the agreed non-taxable status of applicable allowances.
Another major demand involves the proposed 15 per cent “Lagos factor.” The unions want the additional provision to address the high cost of living faced by workers in the state.
They have also raised older demands. These include a 20 per cent salary increase that they say the government promised and the release of five Marcopolo buses for the universities.
The dispute has already affected academic staff in Lagos. ASUU had separately declared an indefinite strike in September across LASU, LASUED and LASUSTECH over the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.
The latest action now brings ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAAT together across the state-owned institutions.
Lagos Government Says It Is Working on Resolution
The Lagos State Government has said it is working to resolve the dispute.
Commissioner for Tertiary Education Tolani Sule said earlier that the government had agreed to implement the agreement. He explained that officials had calculated the financial requirement and were waiting for approval to release the funds.
Sule also said the government was rearranging its budget to provide the money needed to meet the commitments.
The unions, however, have maintained that the government must take concrete action before they suspend the strike.
The JAC said the industrial action would continue until the state government approves and implements the outstanding agreements.
For students at LASU, LASUCOM, LASUSTECH and LASUED, the development could disrupt lectures, examinations, administrative services and other university activities if the dispute continues.
The latest Lagos university strike therefore puts pressure on both sides to resolve the outstanding salary and welfare issues and restore normal activities across the affected institutions.