Workers’ unions across Lagos State-owned universities have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Lagos State Government, demanding the payment of the ₦50,000 palliative promised to tertiary institution workers and the implementation of outstanding Federal Government agreements, failing which they will embark on an indefinite strike.
The ultimatum was announced on Monday during a joint press conference by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Lagos State-owned universities at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.
The affected institutions include Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), and the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM).
The unions—Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU)—also demanded the immediate implementation of the Federal Government’s agreements with university unions, which they said took effect on January 1, 2026.
Speaking on behalf of the unions, Chairman of ASUU-LASU, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had announced the ₦50,000 palliative for all Lagos State workers on May 1, 2026, and that official communication indicated tertiary institution workers were beneficiaries.
He, however, lamented that while civil servants had received the payment, employees of the state-owned universities had been excluded despite several meetings and correspondence with relevant government officials.
According to Bakare, the unions had engaged the offices of the governor, deputy governor, commissioners, Head of Service, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and other key officials, but received no firm commitment to resolve the matter.
“We have exhausted every peaceful avenue because we believe in dialogue. Our members can no longer continue to wait while others have received the payment,” he said.
Bakare added that Lagos State had also accumulated seven months of unpaid obligations under the Federal Government agreements with university unions, despite previous assurances that such agreements would be implemented promptly.
NASU-LASU Chairman, Comrade Obafemi Sanni, warned that if the government failed to address the demands before the expiration of the seven-day notice, the unions would have no option but to commence an indefinite industrial action, stressing that workers’ welfare could no longer be ignored.
