The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos Zone, on Thursday warned that Lagos State’s three public universities could face industrial unrest if the state government fails to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement, six months after it was signed.

The warning was issued during a press conference held at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), where the union accused the Lagos State Government of delaying the implementation of the agreement despite repeated engagements.

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ASUU said the delay has left lecturers at Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) feeling neglected, undervalued and uncertain about the government’s commitment to their welfare.

Addressing journalists, ASUU Lagos Zone Coordinator, Dr Adesola Nassir, said the union had spent eight years renegotiating the 2009 agreement with the Federal Government before the new agreement was eventually signed in 2025.

According to him, representatives of both federal and state universities participated in the negotiations, giving the union confidence that implementation would be smooth across the country’s university system.

“Our utter disappointment is that the Lagos State Government appears to be playing the ostrich on this matter. Six months of interaction with some representatives of the Lagos State Government has not produced any concrete results,” Nassir said.

The union questioned why Lagos, despite its financial capacity and reputation as Nigeria’s economic hub, had yet to implement the agreement while some less financially endowed states had already begun complying with its provisions.

ASUU argued that Nigeria operates a unified university system regulated by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and maintained that welfare standards should not differ significantly across public universities.

“How can a government demand world-class university rankings while failing to create world-class conditions for academic work? How can excellence flourish where welfare remains uncertain?” Nassir asked.

The union warned that prolonged delays could lead to declining staff morale, reduced academic quality, ethical challenges and disruptions to university calendars.

ASUU also expressed concern over unresolved internal disputes in LASU and LASUED, alleging that the state government had failed to address grievances affecting academic staff.

The union cited the dismissal of ASUU officials at LASU, a dispute it said has lingered for almost a decade, as well as what it described as the wrongful termination of the LASUED ASUU chairperson over “a flimsy administrative matter.”

ASUU said several state-owned universities across the country had already suspended academic activities over non-implementation of the 2025 agreement, adding that the Lagos Zone would fully support any action taken by its branches in LASU, LASUED and LASUSTECH.

“We are thereby alerting the Lagos State Government of a brewing unrest in the state. Government, not ASUU, should be held responsible if all universities belonging to Lagos State are thrown into avoidable crises or totally shut down,” Nassir said.

The union urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who serves as Visitor to the three universities, to intervene immediately and conclude ongoing discussions with university representatives to prevent industrial action.

ASUU also called for the settlement of outstanding staff entitlements, the resolution of disputes involving union officials and the full implementation of the 2025 agreement without further delay.

The dispute comes amid growing pressure on state governments to domesticate the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement.

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In recent weeks, several state university branches of ASUU have issued similar warnings or embarked on industrial action over delays in implementing the agreement, raising fresh concerns about possible disruptions to academic activities across Nigeria’s public university system.