LASU Paralysed as Workers Lock Gates Over Unimplemented 2026 Agreements

Academic and administrative activities were brought to a standstill at Lagos State University (LASU) on Monday after non-teaching staff unions shut all access gates to the institution, enforcing an indefinite strike declared by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of staff unions in Lagos State owned universities.

The shutdown, which effectively cut off access to the main campus, extended to the university’s Senate Building, which was also locked by striking workers.

A LASU staff member who spoke with Globalvoice described the action as a complete compliance with the strike directive.

“Early today (Monday), the non-teaching staff union in LASU locked all the gates leading to the university. The university’s Senate Building was equally locked down by the union,” the staff member said.

The development raises fresh questions about the extent of the breakdown in negotiations between the Lagos State Government and university workers, particularly over agreements reached months before the strike.

Inside the Dispute

The strike followed the expiration of a seven day ultimatum issued to the Lagos State Government by the JAC over what the unions described as the government’s failure to implement agreements reached in 2026.

The JAC comprises the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

According to the unions, the dispute is not simply about new demands but the implementation of commitments already negotiated and documented.

At the centre of the controversy is a communiqué signed on August 31, 2026, following negotiations between the unions and the state government.

The unions said the agreement emerged from a technical committee consensus reached on August 18. Among the provisions were a 40 per cent Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and 10 per cent Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) for ASUU, as well as a 35 per cent Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Non-Teaching Staff Allowance (CONTTA) and 35 per cent hazard allowance for NASU and SSANU.

The agreement also reportedly provided for implementation with the August or September 2026 salary and payment of outstanding arrears dating back to January 1, 2026.

But according to JAC Chairman, Comrade Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, implementation never followed.

How the Agreement Unravelled

Bakare told journalists that a communiqué signing originally scheduled for August 24 was disrupted after government representatives allegedly returned to allowance figures of 30 per cent and 35 per cent that the unions had previously rejected.

The unions subsequently appealed directly to Governor Babajide SanwoOlu, a move which, according to Bakare, eventually paved the way for the August 31 agreement.

Yet, by the end of September, the unions said the agreed allowances had still not been reflected in workers’ salaries.

“September salaries were paid without the implementation of the agreed rates and the outstanding arrears,” Bakare said.

The unions now put the outstanding arrears at nine months, covering January to September 2026.

This has become a central question in the dispute: why was an agreement reached and signed in August allegedly left unimplemented by the end of September?

The state government’s position on the specific allegations contained in the JAC's account will be crucial to determining how the impasse developed.

Five Demands Behind the Shutdown

The JAC has outlined five major demands, including immediate executive approval and implementation of the signed 2026 agreements and a one off payment of nine months’ arrears.

The unions are also demanding strict adherence to the non taxable status of negotiated allowances, implementation of the 15 per cent “Lagos Factor” to reflect the high cost of living in the state, and fulfilment of other outstanding commitments.

Among those commitments, according to the unions, is a 20 per cent salary increase promised during the 2023 election campaign and the provision of five buses.

The unions maintain that they exhausted available avenues for negotiation before resorting to industrial action.

Uneven Compliance Across Universities

While LASU witnessed what appeared to be near total enforcement, the situation was different at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED).

The university gates were reportedly open, with some workers seen at their duty posts.

One non teaching staff member explained his decision to report for work by saying he was unwilling to risk losing his job.

The worker also expressed doubts about whether the union would be able to protect members from possible sanctions by management.

The contrasting situations at the two institutions could become significant if the strike continues, particularly as questions emerge over enforcement, workers’ willingness to participate and the potential response of university managements.

Strike Enforcement

Photographs and videos reviewed by Globalvoice showed locked gates and the Senate Building at LASU, while taskforce members enforcing the strike were reportedly moving around the campus to ensure compliance.

The action followed the JAC’s declaration of an immediate, total and indefinite strike beginning at midnight on Friday, October 2, 2026.

The industrial action affects the four Lagos State owned universities: Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) and Lagos State University of Education (LASUED).

The unions have warned that continued government inaction could disrupt the academic calendar and deepen tensions across the institutions.

They have also called on parents, students, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to hold the Lagos State Government responsible for any consequences arising from the shutdown.

For now, the locked gates at LASU represent more than a campus closure. They are the visible consequence of a dispute over whether agreements reached between the government and university workers will be implemented and who ultimately bears the cost when negotiated commitments fail to translate into action.