LASU Workers Embark on Indefinite Strike Over Salary Disparities
Workers at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, have launched an indefinite strike to protest salary disparities and unmet welfare demands. The strike, involving academic and non-academic staff unions such as ASUU, NASU, SSANU, and NAAT, centers on the non-implementation of a 20% salary increase promised by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during his election campaign.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The academic and non-academic staff unions of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, on Monday, commenced an indefinite strike over unresolved salary disparities and unmet welfare demands.
The unions, under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), are demanding the Lagos State Government address the alleged salary gaps between LASU staff and their counterparts in other state-owned tertiary institutions. They are also pressing for the implementation of a 20% salary increment promised by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during his election campaign, alongside compliance with agreements reached at the federal level concerning university workers' salaries.
The strike involves multiple unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-LASU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU-LASU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU-LASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT-LASU).
Speaking on the industrial action, Justice Obafemi, the Chairman of NASU-LASU, explained that the strike stems from the unfulfilled promises made during the last election. He accused the government of neglecting LASU staff after prioritizing civil servants in Alausa Secretariat for the salary increment.
“They used us during the election, but despite our contributions, the promised 20% increment was only paid to civil servants, excluding tertiary institution staff,” Obafemi said.
He further decried longstanding salary disparities, noting that even before Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) and Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) were upgraded to universities, their staff earned more than LASU employees.
ASUU-LASU Chairman, Ibrahim Bakare, emphasized that the strike is a collective effort by all unions to secure better welfare for their members. "We are interested in peace and have conducted ourselves civilly. However, this action is necessary to address our welfare concerns," Bakare stated.
Similarly, SSANU-LASU Chairman, Seyi Lawal, lamented the government’s failure to meet repeated ultimatums, describing their approach as “playing games” with the unions. He said, “We want the government to address these demands first before we can even discuss issues like the minimum wage.”
Despite interventions from LASU’s Vice-Chancellor and various discussions with the Lagos State Ministry of Tertiary Education and Ministry of Establishment and Training, the unions decided to proceed with the strike after their demands remained unmet.
In response to the situation, LASU’s Senate has declared a Christmas and New Year break, effective immediately. According to a statement by Oluwayemisi Thomas-Onashile, Coordinator of the Centre for Information and Public Relations, the break will run until January 5, 2025.
“All university activities, including lectures and socio-academic events, will resume on January 6, 2025. Students residing in hostels across all campuses—Ojo, LASUCOM, Epe, and Badagry—are required to vacate the hostels within 48 hours,” the statement read.
The university management expressed appreciation to staff and students for their commitment throughout the year and wished them a joyous holiday season.
The indefinite strike by LASU workers underscores growing concerns over staff welfare and funding for tertiary education in Lagos State. All eyes are now on the state government to address the unions’ demands and prevent further disruptions to the academic calendar.
