Teaching and non-teaching staff of Lagos State-owned universities have commenced an indefinite strike following the failure of the state government to resolve outstanding demands on salaries, allowances and workers’ welfare.

The industrial action was declared by the Joint Action Committee of workers in the state-owned universities after the expiration of a final seven-day ultimatum issued to the Lagos State Government.

The affected institutions are 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 Joint Action Committee comprises the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

The unions said the decision followed months of engagements with the state government over the implementation of agreements reached between the Federal Government and university-based staff unions.

According to the workers, the outstanding issues include the implementation of the 2026 Federal Government-unions agreements, payment of accumulated salary and allowance arrears, and compliance with agreed terms on negotiated allowances.

The unions are also demanding payment of nine months’ accumulated arrears covering January to September 2026 and the implementation of a 15 per cent “Lagos Factor” allowance, which they said was intended to reflect the cost of living in the state.

The workers further cited previous commitments, including a 20 per cent salary increase announced in 2023 and the provision of five Marcopolo buses for the transportation of students and staff.

JAC Chairman, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, said the unions had exercised restraint and exhausted available channels of dialogue before resorting to industrial action.

He said the workers remained open to intervention by the state government but would continue the strike until their demands were satisfactorily addressed.

The latest action comes after ASUU had earlier declared an indefinite strike across LASU, LASUED and LASUSTECH on September 15 following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum over the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.

The earlier action involved academic staff only and did not include LASUCOM. The latest strike brings together both academic and non-academic unions and extends the industrial action to all four Lagos State-owned university institutions.

The development is expected to affect academic, administrative and other university activities across the institutions as the unions await a resolution with the Lagos State Government.

The workers have maintained that the strike will remain in force until the outstanding agreements and welfare demands are comprehensively addressed.