Lagos varsity workers give govt 7-day ultimatum, threaten strike over N50,000 palliative

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Lagos State-owned universities has issued the state government a seven-day ultimatum to pay workers the promised N50,000 palliative.

The unions gave the ultimatum at a press conference held at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo campus, on Monday, July 27, 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).

The affected institutions are LASU, Lagos State University of Education, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, and Lagos State University College of Medicine.

Speaking for the unions, ASUU-LASU Chairman, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the N50,000 palliative for Lagos workers on May 1, 2026.

Bakare said workers in state-owned universities were excluded from the payment in spite of an official circular indicating their inclusion among beneficiaries.

Bakare said workers in the mainstream civil service had received the payment, while university employees remained excluded.

He added that the unions delayed public action while verifying the situation and engaging university managements and relevant government officials.

Bakare said the vice-chancellors had forwarded the financial implications of the payment to the state government for approval.

He noted that the unions also wrote to the governor, deputy governor, and relevant ministries, including Tertiary Education, Establishments and Training.

However, the ASUU chairman said the responses received were vague and failed to demonstrate a commitment to implementing the governor’s promise.

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Bakare said the unions consequently resolved to issue the seven-day ultimatum after exhaustive consultations across the affected institutions.

He urged the government to act before the ultimatum expired to prevent disruption of academic activities.

“We are men and women of peace, but our members have lost patience because of the continued delay,” Bakare stressed.

Bakare warned that failure to meet the demand would compel the unions’ congresses to determine their next line of action, including an indefinite strike.

He said prevailing economic hardship had worsened university workers’ plight, making the palliative urgent.