The academic and non-academic staff of Lagos State University, Ojo, are set to resume work on Wednesday following the suspension of the industrial action that commenced on July 31.
The Joint Action Committee, an umbrella organization representing 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, decided to end the industrial action during a Monday congress on the university premises.
The institution has experienced a significant disruption in activities following the strike’s commencement.
On August 2, the LASU Senate resolved to put on hold the second-semester examinations and other activities until further notice.
LASU staff in attendance at Monday’s meeting affirmed the decision to resume work, with JAC set to issue a statement specifying the terms for ending 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 said.
Before Monday’s resolution, workers had rejected the Lagos State Government’s offer over their outstanding entitlements.
Representatives of JAC and the university management met with Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat at his office last Thursday, signing an agreement after a five-hour meeting.
The government agreed to settle 12 months of the 23-month salary arrears resulting from 25% and 35% increments owed to staff.
The state government will handle nine months’ payment, while LASU management will cover three months, payable in instalments from August to December 2025.
In a dramatic turn of events, staff members overwhelmingly rejected the agreement at an emergency congress held last Friday, demanding full settlement of 23 months’ worth of arrears in five installments commencing August 2025.
Following Friday’s congress, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello issued a statement appealing to workers to resume their duties.
“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 noted that extended industrial action would have far-reaching implications for students, the university community, and LASU’s reputation, highlighting management’s previous successes, including full Christmas bonus payments, timely promotions, new salary scale implementation, and clearance of overdue promotions.
Confirming the university’s reopening, the Senate approved the resumption of academic and social activities, effective Wednesday, following a meeting on Monday.
Following Senate approval, the 2024/2025 Second Semester Examinations, which were previously suspended, will now begin on Monday, August 18, 2025.
Students are instructed to return promptly and make necessary preparations for the exams.
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.”
