CSOs urge Sanwo-Olu to resolve Lagos varsity strike
Seek Labour, civil society solidarity actions
By Victor Ahiuma-Young
LAGOS — The Joint Action Front, JAF, an umbrella body of pro-labour civil society organisations, has called on the Lagos State Government to engage striking lecturers in the state-owned universities and address their demands to end the ongoing industrial action.
The lecturers, under the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Joint Campus Group comprising ASUU-LASU, ASUU-LASUED and ASUU-LASUSTECH, commenced the strike on September 15, 2026.
The affected institutions are Lagos State University, LASU; Lagos State University of Education, LASUED; and Lagos State University of Science and Technology, LASUSTECH.
The lecturers are demanding the full domestication and implementation of the December 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement, including the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, CATA, and welfare provisions for serving and retired academic staff.
In a statement by its National Mobilisation Officer, Peluola Adewale, JAF said the lecturers embarked on the strike after the state government failed to engage the union despite a 14-day ultimatum issued on August 31.
The group also said the government failed to respond to what it described as a final warning issued by the union on September 10.
JAF urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to enter into negotiations with the ASUU Joint Campus Group, saying meaningful engagement was necessary to restore academic activities at the three universities.
It said: “The Sanwo-Olu government should immediately end the nonchalant attitude of his government to the legitimate demands of the lecturers and plights of students who are denied the service of their lecturers by the strike action.”
The organisation, however, said ASUU should complement the strike with mass mobilisation activities, including symposia, rallies, mass leafleting and protests, to build public support for the lecturers’ demands.
JAF also called on the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, and other civil society organisations to support the lecturers through solidarity actions.
It proposed a one-day statewide solidarity strike and mass protest if the state government fails to meet the lecturers’ demands after an ultimatum.
The group further urged ASUU-LASU to include the demand for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of five union leaders, whom it said had been sanctioned, as part of the ongoing negotiations.
JAF alleged that the Lagos State Government had not adequately addressed the grievances of the lecturers over the years and argued that the current strike provided an opportunity to resolve outstanding issues.
It also maintained that Lagos State had the financial capacity to implement the December 2025 ASUU-FGN agreement while adequately funding public education and other social services.
The group attributed what it described as inadequate funding of public education to issues including alleged mismanagement of public resources and government policies that prioritise other areas over social services.
JAF said it would continue to mobilise workers, students and civil society organisations around issues affecting public education and welfare.
The Lagos State Government had yet to respond to the latest demands by JAF as of the time of filing this report.
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