Academic and non-academic workers across four Lagos State-owned universities have commenced an indefinite strike, effectively shutting down academic and administrative activities at the institutions.

The industrial action was declared by the Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising 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).

The affected institutions 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 strike followed the expiration of a final seven-day ultimatum issued to the Lagos State Government over the non-implementation of agreements reached on salaries, allowances and other welfare issues.

JAC Chairman, Professor Ibrahim Bakare, said the unions had exhausted available channels of dialogue after months of engagements with government officials without a satisfactory resolution.

According to the unions, salary and allowance arrears have accumulated to nine months, covering January to September 2026.

The workers said an agreement reached with the government on August 31 provided for the implementation of revised salary and allowance structures, as well as the payment of outstanding arrears.

However, they said September salaries were paid without the agreed adjustments or payment of the arrears, bringing the outstanding period to nine months.

Among the major demands of the workers is the immediate implementation of the 2026 Federal Government and staff unions’ agreement across the four institutions.

They are also demanding payment of the nine months’ accumulated arrears, adherence to the agreed non-taxable status of applicable allowances and implementation of a 15 per cent “Lagos Factor” allowance to cushion the impact of the high cost of living in the state.

The unions are further demanding the fulfilment of previous commitments attributed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, including a 20 per cent salary increase promised in 2023 and the provision of five Marcopolo buses for the transportation needs of students and staff.

Bakare said the workers considered their demands legitimate and within the financial capacity of the state government.

He maintained that the strike would remain in force until the government addresses the outstanding issues and implements the agreements reached with the unions.

The development is expected to significantly disrupt academic activities and the academic calendar across the four institutions, affecting students, lecturers, administrative workers and other members of the university community.

The unions, however, indicated that they remained open to meaningful engagement with the Lagos State Government if concrete steps were taken to resolve the dispute.

The strike comes amid growing concerns over the funding and welfare of workers in state-owned tertiary institutions, with the unions urging the Lagos State Government to urgently intervene and prevent further disruption to academic activities.