News Investigators/ Joint Action Committee (JAC) of staff unions in Lagos State-owned universities has threatened an immediate and indefinite strike.
The unions issued the threat on Friday at a news conference held at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo Campus.
Ibrahim Bakare, Chairman of JAC and Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU-LASU), disclosed this while addressing journalists at the conference.
JAC comprises ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAAT across LASU, LASUCOM, LASUSTECH and LASUED.
Prof. Bakare said the unions’ final seven-day ultimatum to the Lagos State Government would expire at midnight on Friday.
He said the unions had exhausted all avenues of dialogue over the implementation of the 2026 Federal Government and staff unions’ agreements.
“We have exhausted every possible means to avert declaration of industrial action across state-owned universities in Lagos State,” Bakare said.
He said the crisis resulted from bureaucratic delays, shifting goalposts and a lack of executive action on the agreements.
According to him, JAC had engaged relevant government ministries since July 30 to resolve the issues through dialogue.
He said a technical committee comprising government and JAC representatives reached consensus on the implementation of various allowances on Aug. 18.
Prof. Bakare said the agreed terms included 40 per cent Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance for ASUU and 35 per cent allowances for SSANU and NASU.
He said the parties subsequently signed a communiqué on Aug. 31, committing to implementation from September 2026 and payment of eight months’ arrears.
“September salaries were paid without the implementation of the agreed rates and the outstanding arrears,” he said.
Prof. Bakare said the non-implementation had increased the outstanding arrears to nine months, covering January to September 2026.
He said JAC was demanding immediate executive approval and implementation of the signed 2026 agreements without further alteration or delay.
Prof. Bakare said the unions also demanded payment of nine months’ arrears, non-taxation of applicable allowances and implementation of the 15 per cent Lagos factor.
He added that the unions demanded fulfilment of outstanding commitments, including a 20 per cent salary increment and release of five Marcopolo buses promised to state-owned universities.
Prof. Bakare said the unions had demonstrated restraint and repeatedly chosen dialogue in spite of the challenges, instead of disrupting academic activities.
“However, our patience has been pushed to the absolute limit,” he said.
He said failure by the state government to act before midnight would trigger “an immediate, total and indefinite strike” across Lagos State-owned universities.
Prof. Bakare appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents and students to urge the government to resolve the matter before the deadline.
He, however, said the unions remained open to immediate executive action before the expiration of the ultimatum.
NAN
