By Joke Kujenya
THE TWO-week industrial action at Lagos State University (LASU) has been called off following an agreement between the institution’s management and the Joint Action Committee of Staff Unions (JACSU).
Academic and administrative work will resume on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, with students expected back on campus ahead of examinations scheduled for 18 August.
The JACSU, comprising the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), resolved to suspend the strike at a congress held on Monday.
The action, which began on 31 July, had brought academic and social activities to a halt.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello had appealed to staff in a message titled It’s Time to Move Forward, warning that the prolonged shutdown risked harming the university’s reputation and disrupting students’ education.
She said the Lagos State Government (LASG) had made offers addressing staff grievances and urged workers to return “as a demonstration of our belief in each other, and one another and in our collective strength.”
She highlighted welfare measures under her administration since 2021, including full payment of Earned Academic Allowances, prompt promotions, end-of-year bonuses, priority admissions and employment for staff families, and implementation of a 25%/35% federal salary increment.
The decision to suspend the strike followed a meeting last Thursday between representatives of the unions, the university management, and Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
A five-hour negotiation produced a deal for payment of 12 months’ arrears from the 25% and 35% salary increases owed to staff.
Under the agreement, the state government will cover nine months’ worth, while the university will handle three months, with payment spread from August to December 2025.
Although some workers rejected the deal during an emergency congress last Friday, insisting on full payment of the 23-month arrears, the resolution to resume work was reached after further consultations.
Staff representatives confirmed the decision on Monday, adding that the Joint Action Committee would release a communiqué outlining terms for the suspension.
The LASU Senate, meeting on Monday, approved the resumption of academic and social activities from Wednesday 13 August.
In a statement issued by the Coordinator of the Centre for Information and Public Relations, Oluwayemisi Thomas-Onashile, Senate instructed students to move into hostels on all campuses in Ojo, Ikeja, and Epe from Wednesday.
The second-semester examinations, suspended since 2 August, will now commence on Monday, 18 August.
The statement noted that the Senate’s resolution followed “due consideration of the updates received from the Vice-Chancellor on the meeting with the Deputy Governor” and the decision of the Joint Action Committee to end its industrial action.
Students were advised to return promptly and prepare adequately for their examinations.
The unions note that the strike had led to the suspension of all academic and administrative activities, including examinations originally set for 4 August.
However, the agreement reached last week, and this week Monday’s resolution now pave the way for full restoration of activities at the institution, they said.
