LASU Declares Christmas Break Amidst Staff Strike

Lagos State University (LASU) has announced a Christmas and New Year break spanning from Monday, December 9, 2024, to Sunday, January 5, 2025. This decision comes in the wake of an ongoing strike action declared by the university’s Joint Action Committee (JAC) of staff unions.

In a statement released by the university’s Senate, it was disclosed that all academic and socio-academic activities across LASU’s campuses, including lectures, will remain suspended until Monday, January 6, 2025, when activities are expected to resume. The break affects students, staff, and other stakeholders within the institution.

The university further directed all students residing in hostels on its campuses—Ojo, LASUCOM, Epe, and Badagry—to vacate their accommodations within 48 hours. The evacuation directive, effective from 8:00 a.m. on Monday, December 9, 2024, is part of measures to ensure compliance with the announced break.

The strike action, which has significantly disrupted academic activities at the institution, was declared on Friday by the university’s Joint Action Committee. The JAC comprises the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). The unions are protesting against what they describe as “low salary payments” and other unresolved welfare concerns.

The university management expressed regret over the disruption caused by the industrial action and the break but appealed to all stakeholders to remain calm as efforts are made to address the issues raised by the striking unions.

The strike and subsequent break have drawn mixed reactions from students and staff, with many expressing concerns about the impact on academic calendars and the overall learning experience. As the institution navigates these challenges, stakeholders are hopeful that negotiations between the university management and the unions will yield positive results to restore normalcy in the new year.