LIVE UPDATES
LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has begun a total and indefinite strike action over the Lagos State Government’s failure to implement the federal government-approved salary increment of 25 and 35 per cent for its members since January 2023.
According to a statement obtained by RocketparrotNews and signed by the ASUU-LASU Chairperson professor Ibrahim Bakare, and it Secretary Sylvester Idowu stated that the strike action began on 6 December.
“We note with dismay that this agreement has been implemented in all the federal universities and eighteen (18) state universities as of today,” the statement said.
The union in the statement dated Sunday, 8 December, 2024 said the declaration of the strike action conforms with the decision of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of all the staff unions in the university, adding that a letter has been sent to the vice-chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu
RocketparrotNews report that JAC comprises ASUU, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
The union called on the Lagos State Government to harmonise its members’ salary scale with that of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology and the Lagos State University of Education, which it said earns better than their counterparts in LASU.
ASUU-LASU noted that the government has failed to implement the recommendation of a committee set up by the government on the harmonisation of salaries.
The statement added “We use this medium to appeal to our world-class students to display a high sense of maturity, solidarity and understanding in this matter. We implore them to keep calm and watch as events unfold,”
ASUU-LASU also dismissed a press statement by the students’ union which reportedly claims that only ASUU members are embarking on the strike action and that academic activities would continue unhindered.
The Students’ Union President, Ayomide Adebobola, and Public Relations Officer, Mouyon Asikoto, respectively had issued a press statement assuring students of undisrupted academic activities.
However, ASUU-LASU has asked that students disregard the statement.
The statement reads in part: “Our law-abiding students should disregard the Press Release dated 7th December 2024, jointly signed by the LASU Students’ Union President and the Public Relations Officer that activities continue in LASU despite SSANU and NASU industrial strike.
“We wish to remind them that students have no stake in the matter or possess any right to meddle into welfare issues involving staff members of the university and the government, and as such they should not allow themselves to be used in a matter that does not directly concern them.”
