The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has started an indefinite strike at three universities owned by the Lagos State Government after the state failed to resolve outstanding demands by the union.
The affected institutions are Lagos State University, LASU; Lagos State University of Education, LASUED; and Lagos State University of Science and Technology, LASUSTECH.
The union’s Joint Campus Group covering the three universities announced the strike on Tuesday after the Lagos State Government failed to respond to a 14-day ultimatum issued on August 31.
ASUU said its final warning issued on September 10 also did not lead to negotiations with the government. The deadline given to the state government eventually expired on September 13 without any meeting between both sides.
The union is demanding that the Lagos State Government domesticate and implement relevant parts of the agreement reached between ASUU and the Federal Government in December 2025 across the three state-owned universities.
Among the issues at the centre of the dispute is the implementation of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, CATA, as well as welfare provisions for both serving and retired academic staff.
ASUU said it was aware that the strike could disrupt academic activities and affect students, parents, university workers and other members of the university community. It therefore appealed to students to remain peaceful and law-abiding while efforts to resolve the disagreement continue.
The union also made it clear that the industrial action was not directed at the management of the three universities. It acknowledged the efforts of the university authorities towards implementing the agreement and said the dispute was with the Lagos State Government.
ASUU called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, alumni groups, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to intervene and help bring the dispute to an end.
The union said it had given the government enough time and had made several attempts to settle the matter through discussions. However, it accused the state government of failing to act on the outstanding issues, while noting that similar agreements had already been implemented in some neighbouring states.
The national leadership of ASUU has also backed the strike and supported the steps taken by the three university branches.
The union said the action would continue until the Lagos State Government meets with ASUU, signs the relevant agreement, domesticate its provisions and begins full implementation.
ASUU maintained that it remained open to dialogue and would support the return of normal academic activities once the issues responsible for the strike are resolved.