LASU staff suspend strike, to resume on Wednesday

Academic and non-academic staff of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, are set to return to duty on Wednesday, following the suspension of the strike that began on July 31.

The decision to end the industrial action was taken on Monday during a congress held on the university’s premises by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) — a coalition comprising the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, and the National Association of Academic Technologists.

Since the strike began, university activities have been brought to a standstill.

On 2nd August, the LASU Senate halted the 2024/2025 second-semester examinations — originally scheduled to begin on 4th August — along with other academic and administrative operations, until further notice.

Several LASU staff members who were present at Monday’s congress confirmed the decision to resume work, noting that JAC is expected to issue a communiqué outlining the conditions for suspending the strike.

“We are resuming on Wednesday. We arrived at this decision at our congress today (Monday).

“The JAC will issue a circular detailing the analysis,” a staff member said.

“The strike has been suspended. There is an agreement that we will resume work on Wednesday,” another staff member confirmed.

Before Monday’s decision, workers had rejected the Lagos State Government’s offer regarding their outstanding entitlements.

Last Thursday, representatives of JAC and the university’s management met with the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, at his office, where an agreement was signed.

The five-hour negotiation resulted in an arrangement in which the government committed to paying 12 months of the 23-month arrears from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increments owed to staff.

Under the deal, the state government will cover nine months of payment, while LASU’s management will handle the remaining three months, with the payments to be made in instalments between August and December 2025.

However, during an emergency congress last Friday, many staff members rejected the proposal, demanding full payment of the 23-month arrears in five instalments beginning in August 2025.

Some employees accused JAC leaders of signing an “insufficient” agreement without first obtaining the approval of the congress.

A few hours after Friday’s congress, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, issued an appeal calling on staff to resume work.

“The state government has made offers in response to our demands. I know they may not meet every expectation, but I ask that we accept them as part of the realities of negotiations and life, where we win some and lose some,” she said.

She further stated that prolonged strike action would have significant negative effects on students, the university community, and LASU’s reputation, while reminding staff of past management achievements, such as the payment of 100 per cent Christmas bonuses, timely promotions, implementation of the new salary increment, and the resolution of long-standing promotion delays.

Confirming the reopening, the Senate of the university, during its Monday meeting, also approved the resumption of academic and social activities at the institution from Wednesday.

In a statement issued on Monday evening by the Coordinator, Centre for Information and Public Relations, LASU, Thomas-Onashile Oluwayemisi, students were instructed to return to their hostels across the Ojo, Ikeja, and Epe campuses from Wednesday.

The Senate also approved that the 2024/2025 Second Semester Examinations, which had been suspended, should now begin on Monday, 18th August 2025.

The statement encouraged students to return promptly and prepare thoroughly for the examinations.

The statement read, “The Senate of Lagos State University, at its meeting held on Monday, 11th August 2025, approved the resumption of academic and social activities in the University with effect from Wednesday, 13th August 2025.

“This follows the decision of the Joint Action Committee to call off its industrial action on Tuesday, 12th August 2025, and resume work on Wednesday, 13th August 2025, after a productive meeting with the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, on Thursday, 7th August 2025.

“After due consideration of the updates received from the Vice-Chancellor on the said meeting, Senate resolved that, all academic and social activities should resume across the University on Wednesday, 13th August 2025.

“Students should move into their hostels on all University campuses in Ojo, Ikeja and Epe from Wednesday, 13th August 2025. The 2024/2025 Second Semester Examinations, previously suspended, should commence on Monday, 18th August 2025.”