UNILAG lecturers begin indefinite strike over unpaid allowances, salary cuts

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter at the University of Lagos has directed its members to commence an indefinite strike over what it described as incomplete salary payments for January and February 2026.

The decision was reached during an emergency congress of the union held on Tuesday at the Faculty of Engineering Lecture Theatre, Akoka campus.

In a resolution issued after the meeting, the union instructed its members to withdraw their services starting from Wednesday, March 11, pending the full payment of the affected salaries. The resolution was jointly signed by the chairperson of ASUU-UNILAG, Prof. Idou Keinde, and the secretary, Prof. Adesina Arikawe.

According to the union, lecturers across the university received incomplete salary payments for January 2026. It noted that staff at the Akoka campus were not paid their Earned Academic Allowances, while lecturers at the Idi-Araba campus were denied both the Earned Academic Allowances and the Clinical Academic Teaching Allowance.

ASUU-UNILAG further alleged that the university administration also paid what it described as a reduced or “amputated” salary for February 2026 without consultation with the union.

The lecturers condemned the development, describing it as insensitive to the welfare of academic staff and contrary to acceptable standards within federal universities of similar status.

Following deliberations at the congress, the union unanimously rejected the payment structure and insisted that members would remain on strike until the university settles the full salaries and outstanding allowances for January and February.

The union also stated that the action aligns with an earlier resolution of ASUU’s National Executive Council adopted ahead of the National Delegates Conference held on May 8, 2025.