The management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has criticised the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for embarking on an industrial action without following established procedures.
The union had announced the strike after a congress held on Tuesday, directing lecturers to withdraw their services from Wednesday over what it described as “amputated” salaries for January and February.
Chairman of ASUU, UNILAG chapter, Idou Keinde, said lecturers did not receive the full components of their pay. According to him, the unpaid items include the Consolidated Salary Structure for Academics, Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, and the Professorial Allowance.
Keinde insisted that lecturers would not resume academic duties until the outstanding salary components were fully paid.
Reacting to the development, the university’s management, through the Head of the Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, said discussions with the union’s leadership were already underway to resolve the issues, particularly the unpaid Consolidated Academic Teaching Allowances.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the institution maintained that the union did not follow due process before declaring the strike.
“Management observes that due process was not followed in making this declaration.
Nevertheless, in its commitment to the welfare of staff and students, the university has continued to engage with the ASUU Executive to address all issues,” the statement said.
Despite the industrial action, the university assured students that ongoing semester examinations would proceed as scheduled, noting that the academic calendar had reached a critical stage.
The management warned that any disruption could adversely affect students, particularly those preparing for the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), internships, and those expected to proceed to the Nigerian Law School.
However, the institution acknowledged that some examinations might be postponed where students had already been informed by their Deans or Heads of Department that the tests would not hold.
It added that all examinations are expected to continue from Thursday, March 12, 2026, with deans directed to ensure adequate arrangements for their smooth conduct.
The university also appealed to members of the academic community to remain calm while discussions with the ASUU leadership continue in a bid to reach an amicable resolution.
