Workers’ unions in Lagos State-owned universities have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government to address their outstanding welfare demands, warning that failure to do so could result in an indefinite industrial action.
The unions are demanding the immediate implementation of agreements reached between the Federal Government and major university-based unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, which they said became effective from January 1, 2026.
They also called on the government to release funds for the payment of the N50,000 palliative announced for workers on May 1, 2026, stressing that failure to meet their demands within the stipulated period would leave them with no option but to embark on a strike.
The ultimatum was announced on Monday during a joint press briefing by the Joint Action Committee, JAC, of Lagos State-owned universities, held at the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo campus.
Representatives of ASUU, the Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, SSANU and NAAT attended the briefing, where they appealed to the state government to take immediate steps to prevent a disruption of academic activities in the affected institutions.
The institutions affected include Lagos State University, LASU, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, LASUSTECH, Lagos State University of Education, LASUED, and Lagos State University College of Medicine, LASUCOM.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the unions, ASUU-LASU Chairman, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had announced the N50,000 palliative for all Lagos State workers during the May 1, 2026 Workers’ Day celebration.
Bakare explained that government communication on the initiative indicated that staff of tertiary institutions were included, but noted that while civil servants in the state received the payment, workers in state-owned universities were left out despite several engagements with relevant authorities.
He said the unions had made several efforts to resolve the matter through consultations and official correspondence with key government officials, including the governor, deputy governor, commissioners for Tertiary Education and Establishments, Training, the Head of Service, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Accountant-General, and other relevant officials.
However, Bakare expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s response, describing the communication received from authorities as unclear and lacking a definite commitment to fulfilling the promise made to university workers.
“We explored every peaceful and reasonable avenue available to us because we believe in dialogue. Unfortunately, our members have become exhausted and can no longer continue to wait while other categories of public servants have received the payment,” he said.
He stated that following consultations among workers across the affected institutions, the unions decided to give the government seven days to resolve the issue and commence the release of funds.
Bakare warned that if the demands were not addressed before the expiration of the ultimatum, the unions would be forced to consider industrial action.
“We pray industrial action does not happen, but if we are pushed to that point, we will have no other option. We cannot continue to allow our members to suffer under the current economic realities,” he said.
The ASUU-LASU chairman also disclosed that Lagos State had accumulated seven months of unpaid obligations arising from Federal Government agreements with university unions.
He recalled that Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat had earlier assured workers that future agreements reached with the Federal Government would be implemented promptly to prevent the accumulation of arrears.
Bakare noted that some state-owned universities in Ekiti and Osun states had already implemented similar agreements, describing the delay in Lagos as unexpected considering the state’s status as one of Nigeria’s most developed states.
The unions further appealed to the government to address other outstanding welfare issues, including the release of staff buses promised by Governor Sanwo-Olu and the resolution of the 20 per cent salary-related matter raised during previous negotiations.
Also speaking, NASU-LASU Chairman, Comrade Obafemi Sanni, accused the government of showing insufficient commitment towards resolving issues affecting workers in tertiary institutions.
Sanni said the unions had been compelled to issue the ultimatum because of the prolonged delay in implementing agreements reached with the government.
He maintained that unless urgent steps were taken before the deadline, the unions would have no choice but to commence an indefinite strike.
The workers’ representatives reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue but insisted that addressing staff welfare concerns was necessary to maintain industrial peace and stability across Lagos State-owned universities.
They also appealed to the state government to act swiftly, warning that many workers were facing severe hardship.
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