Academic activities have come to a standstill at Lagos State University (LASU) following the commencement of an indefinite strike by four major staff unions over unresolved disputes with the university management.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-LASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU-LASU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU-LASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT-LASU) — acting under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) — officially announced the strike action in a letter dated July 31, 2025, addressed to Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello.
The strike began on Thursday, July 31, effectively shutting down academic and administrative operations across LASU’s campuses in Ojo, Ikeja (LASUCOM), and Epe.
In the letter obtained by Channels Television and confirmed by university sources, the unions cited unresolved demands and a lack of meaningful engagement from the management.
“The strike action will be in force indefinitely until all the demands of staff members are met by the appropriate authorities,” the letter read in part.
The statement was signed by:
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Prof. Ibrahim A. Bakare and Sylvester O. Idowu (ASUU-LASU Chairman and Secretary)
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Oluwaseyi Lawal and Waheed Majekodunmi (SSANU-LASU Chairman and Secretary)
They instructed all staff to vacate their duty posts and withdraw services immediately, with effect from Thursday.
The timing of the strike is particularly disruptive, as second-semester examinations for the 2024/2025 academic session were scheduled to begin on Monday, August 5, 2025.
Now, thousands of students are left in limbo, with no clarity on when academic activities — or exams — will resume.
Though specific grievances have not been fully disclosed, union insiders told reporters the strike is connected to delays in promotion processes, non-payment of certain entitlements, inadequate funding, and issues with staffing welfare.
Several student bodies have also expressed frustration with what appears to be a breakdown in communication between university authorities and staff unions.
“I’ve been preparing for my exams for weeks. Now, everything is on hold again. It’s unfair,” said Mary Aluko, a 300-level student of Mass Communication.
Many students took to social media, using hashtags like #LASUStrike and #SaveOurSemester to express disappointment and call for immediate resolution.
University management has yet to issue an official response to the strike action. However, sources say emergency meetings are being held internally to address the crisis and possibly negotiate a truce before the impasse worsens.
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