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ASUU-UNILAG Declares Indefinite Strike Over "Amputated" Salaries

Published on Mar 11, 2026 • Education

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially declared an indefinite strike, effective today, Wednesday, 11th March 2026.

The decision was reached during an emergency congress held yesterday at the Faculty of Engineering Lecture Theatre. Union leaders cited the receipt of "amputated" or incomplete salaries for January and February as the primary driver for the industrial action.

Why Are the Lecturers Striking?
The union expressed deep frustration over what they described as unexplained and "indiscriminate" deductions from their paychecks. Key grievances include:

Salary Deductions: Members across both campuses reported receiving significantly reduced salaries for the first two months of the year.

Withheld Allowances (Akoka Campus): Lecturers at the main campus noted that their Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) was completely omitted.

Withheld Allowances (Idi-Araba Campus): Academics at the College of Medicine faced even steeper cuts, missing both their EAA and the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA).

In a strongly worded communique, Chairperson Prof. Idowu Kehinde and Secretary Prof. Adesina Arikawe condemned the university administration's actions, stating that the strike would remain in force until all outstanding salary portions and entitlements are paid in full.

University Management and Examination Status
The UNILAG management has acknowledged the union's stance but has challenged the legality of the strike, claiming that due process was not followed in the declaration.

Despite the strike notice, the university has issued the following directives:

Ongoing Exams: Management insists that ongoing examinations will proceed as scheduled today to minimize academic disruption.

Rescheduling: For courses where papers might have been affected by the morning’s uncertainty, rescheduling arrangements are being made.

Ongoing Dialogue: The University’s Head of Communication, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, stated that management is currently in meetings and remains committed to resolving the issue through continued dialogue with the ASUU executive.

What This Means for Students
As of this morning, there is a clear tension between the union's directive to "down tools" and management's "exams must go on" policy. Students are advised to:

Check with Departments: Confirm the specific status of your exams directly with your departmental heads.

Stay Informed: Monitor official university emails and verified SUG social media handles for real-time updates on lecture cancellations or venue changes.

Remain Calm: While the situation is developing, the university is working to ensure that graduating students and those preparing for internships are not unfairly delayed.