LASU Strike Deepens: Students Evacuate as Academic Calendar Disrupted

On August 1, 2025, both teaching and non-teaching staff at Lagos State University (LASU) commenced an indefinite strike over welfare issues and unresolved disputes with management. The strike was coordinated by the Joint Action Committee, a coalition of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). In a letter issued to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, the Committee stated that the strike would continue until their demands are met. It was also stated in the letter that the strike would extend to the affiliate campuses, LASUCOM and LASU Epe Campus, as well.

Since the commencement of the strike, students at LASU have been ordered to vacate the premises and their exams, which were scheduled to begin on Monday, have been suspended until further notice. Despite the meetings between the involved parties, no resolution has been reached. In a statement, the Joint Action Committee emphasised that their grievances are directed at the Lagos State Government and not the university management.

In response to the strike, the Lagos State Government has appealed to the committee to suspend the strike and resume negotiations. Speaking on behalf of the state government, Mr. Tolani Sule, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, acknowledged the concerns of the Union and assured them that the Government was already taking steps to address them. He pleaded with the Union to call off the strike and consider the students whose education had been disrupted by the strike.

The ongoing strike highlights a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector: systemic neglect and a lack of sustainable solutions to welfare concerns. These strikes, though rooted in legitimate concerns, disrupt students’ lives and academic calendars, further exacerbating Nigeria’s brain drain and contributing to the country’s developmental decline. As recently as last month, ASUU threatened to undertake a strike if July salaries remained unpaid, representing an escalation of their actions in June.

Beyond LASU, this reflects a broader crisis in Nigeria’s public sector, where strikes across hospitals, schools, and government institutions are increasingly becoming commonplace. These strikes signal deep dissatisfaction with governance and economic realities in a country grappling with a staggering inflation rate of 22.2%. Without a lasting resolution, the ripple effects of these strikes could strain the country’s social and economic fabric, potentially leading to the collapse of these institutions.