By Our Reporter
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a total and indefinite strike across the three universities owned by the Lagos State Government over the non-implementation of the 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and the union.
The affected institutions are Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo; Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Oto/Ijanikin; and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu.
The decision was taken on Tuesday at separate branch congresses of the union and took effect immediately.
In a joint statement signed by 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 followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Lagos State Government on August 31, 2026.
According to the union, the state government failed to provide a satisfactory response to its demands before the ultimatum expired.
ASUU said a final warning issued on September 10 also failed to produce a concrete response before the September 13 deadline.
The union said its principal demand was the full domestication and implementation of the December 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement across all Lagos State-owned universities.
It said the agreement covers the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and other welfare provisions for serving and retired academic staff.
ASUU accused the Lagos State Government of failing to act despite repeated efforts by the union to resolve the dispute through dialogue.
The union said the disruption of academic activities was the result of what it described as the government’s continued inaction and failure to implement agreements already being honoured by some other states.
It added that the industrial action had the backing of ASUU’s national leadership, which supported the process leading to the strike, including formal communications to university managements and governing councils.
ASUU said the strike would remain in force until the Lagos State Government enters into meaningful negotiations, signs, domesticates and fully implements the relevant provisions of the 2025 agreement.
The union, however, expressed its willingness to engage in constructive dialogue and said normal academic activities would resume once the outstanding issues were addressed.
Acknowledging the potential impact of the strike on the academic calendar and the university community, ASUU said the decision was taken “with a heavy heart”.
The union appealed to students, parents, university authorities and other stakeholders for understanding and support, stressing that the action was not directed against the administrations of the affected institutions.
Lagos is among 20 states identified by ASUU at the national level as having governors who have yet to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.