UNILAG Academic Staff Union Announces Indefinite Industrial Action Over Salary Reductions
The University of Lagos chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially declared its intention to commence an indefinite strike action. This decisive move comes as a direct response to what union leaders have characterized as "amputated" salary payments disbursed to academic staff for the months of January and February 2026.
Emergency Meeting Leads to Strike Declaration
Following an emergency meeting held on Tuesday, March 11, 2026, the union leadership confirmed the industrial action through a formal statement. The document was jointly signed by Idou Kehinde, serving as the union chairperson, and Adesina Arikawe, acting as the union secretary. According to the released communique, the strike is scheduled to begin immediately on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, and will persist until the university administration addresses the union's demands comprehensively.
Details of the Salary Dispute
The union's statement provided specific details regarding the salary reductions that prompted this drastic action:
- For January 2026 salaries, the university reportedly made discriminatory payments across campuses
- At the Akoka Campus, academic staff received no EAA (Earned Academic Allowance) payments
- At the Idi-Araba Campus, staff were denied both EAA and CATA (Car and Transport Allowance) payments
- For February 2026, the university unilaterally implemented what the union describes as "wicked" salary reductions across all members
The union leadership characterized these actions as "a violation of decency" and portrayed the university administration's approach as "wicked, unfeeling and satanic" in their official communication.
Union Resolutions and Demands
In their statement, ASUU-UNILAG outlined three key resolutions that form the basis of their industrial action:
- Complete rejection of the salary reductions that resulted in what they term "amputated" January and February 2026 salaries
- Immediate withdrawal of services effective March 11, 2026, citing the university's failure to pay full salaries by March 9, 2026
- Continuation of the service withdrawal until the university pays all January and February 2026 salaries in full to every member
The union emphasized that these decisions followed "extensive and exhaustive" discussions regarding the salary cuts implemented by university management over the preceding two months. They further noted that their action aligns with a pre-existing resolution from the National Executive Council meeting held on May 8, 2025.
Impact and Implications
This indefinite strike action represents a significant escalation in the ongoing dispute between academic staff and university administration at one of Nigeria's premier higher education institutions. The timing of the strike, coming early in the academic year, threatens to disrupt teaching, research, and administrative activities across UNILAG's campuses.
The union has instructed all its members to cease work immediately and maintain the industrial action until their demands for full salary payments are met. This development adds to the growing list of labor disputes within Nigeria's university system and highlights the persistent challenges facing academic staff compensation in the country's higher education sector.
