By Kazeem Waris
The Joint Action Front, JAF, an umbrella body of pro-labour civil society organisations, has urged Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to engage the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and resolve the issues behind the ongoing strike by lecturers in the state’s three public universities.
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 domestication and implementation of the December 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement, including the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, CATA, as well as improved welfare provisions for serving and retired academic staff.
In a statement by its National Mobilisation Officer, Peluola Adewale, JAF said the strike, which began on September 15, followed the state government’s failure to engage the union despite a 14-day ultimatum issued on August 31 and a further warning on September 10.
The group urged the governor to open negotiations with ASUU, noting that the union had expressed willingness to return to dialogue and resume academic activities once the outstanding issues were addressed.
JAF also called on ASUU to sustain public mobilisation through peaceful rallies, symposia and other activities, while urging the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, and other civil society groups to support the lecturers’ demands.
It said solidarity action, including a statewide protest, could be considered if the government failed to resolve the dispute after further engagement.
The organisation further urged ASUU to include in the negotiations the demand for the reinstatement of five ASUU-LASU members it said had been subjected to disciplinary measures, alongside restoration of their financial benefits and promotions.
JAF maintained that Lagos State had the resources to adequately fund its public universities and implement agreements reached with academic staff.
It therefore called for increased investment in public education and urged the state government and ASUU to reach a negotiated settlement to end the strike and restore academic activities at the three institutions.
