The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a total and indefinite strike across Lagos State’s three government-owned universities, citing the failure of the state government to resolve outstanding welfare and implementation issues.
The affected institutions are Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH).
The strike took effect on Tuesday, following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Lagos State Government on August 31 without what the union described as satisfactory engagement or a concrete resolution.
The declaration was contained in a joint statement signed by the Coordinator, ASUU-LASU Joint Campus Group, Olusegun Babalola; Acting Chairman, ASUU-LASUED, Grace Abimbola; and Chairman, ASUU-LASUSTECH, Murisiku Onigemo.
ASUU said the immediate trigger for the industrial action was the government’s failure to respond to the union’s demands before the September 13 deadline, despite a final warning issued on September 10 that “silence is no longer an option.”
At the centre of the dispute is the union’s demand for the full domestication and implementation of the December 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement across the three Lagos State-owned universities.
The union said the demand covers the implementation of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance as well as other critical welfare provisions for serving and retired academic staff.
“Following the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum issued to the Lagos State Government on 31 August 2026, the Academic Staff Union of Universities Joint Campus Group comprising Lagos State University, Lagos State University of Education, and Lagos State University of Science and Technology hereby declares a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action effective immediately,” the union said.
ASUU said the strike would remain in force until the state government engages meaningfully with the union and signs, domesticates and fully implements the applicable provisions of the 2025 agreement.
The union, however, said it remained open to dialogue and would suspend the action once the outstanding issues were satisfactorily addressed.
“The Union remains entirely committed to constructive dialogue and to the swift restoration of normal academic activities as soon as these outstanding issues are addressed,” it said.
The union described the decision to withdraw its services as one taken with a “heavy heart” and appealed to students and parents to remain calm and law-abiding while efforts toward a resolution continue.
ASUU also described the action as a “rescue mission for Lagos State education”, arguing that the dispute was ultimately about improving the welfare and working conditions of academics in the state’s universities.
The union said the strike had the backing of its national leadership, which it claimed had supported the steps taken by the three university branches, including correspondence with university authorities, governing councils and the institutions’ Visitors before the ultimatum was issued.
It called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, alumni associations, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to intervene and support efforts to resolve the dispute.
The latest development places LASU, LASUED and LASUSTECH among Nigerian universities where academic activities have been disrupted by disputes over the implementation of the December 2025 agreement between ASUU and the Federal Government.
For students across the three Lagos institutions, the duration of the disruption will now depend on how quickly the state government and the union return to the negotiating table and reach an agreement on the outstanding demands.
