KEY POINTS

• ASUU UNILAG declares indefinite strike over unpaid January and February salary components.
• UNILAG management says the strike declaration skipped due process.
• Management insists semester examinations will proceed as scheduled.

The University of Lagos on Wednesday pushed back against its Academic Staff Union chapter’s declared strike, calling the action procedurally flawed and insisting that the strike would not disrupt students sitting semester examinations.

The UNILAG ASUU strike began Wednesday after lecturers at a Tuesday congress voted to withdraw services over what the union described as “amputated” salaries for January and February 2026. ASUU chapter chairman Prof. Idou Keinde said lecturers had not received their full pay packages, with the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, Earned Academic Allowance and Professorial Allowance all missing from recent payslips.

“The university unilaterally and wickedly paid amputated February 2026 salary to all our members,” the union’s communique read. Keinde said lecturers would stay out until every outstanding naira was paid.

Exams Will Not Stop, Management Says

UNILAG management responded through its communications head, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, acknowledging the salary concerns but taking issue with how the union went about pressing them.

“Management observes that due process was not followed in making this declaration,” the statement read.

The university made clear that student examinations already underway would continue regardless of the UNILAG ASUU strike. Management cited the particular vulnerability of students at this stage of the academic session, noting that disruptions would hit hardest those about to begin industrial attachments, internships and preparation for law school.

“Any disruption at this time would adversely affect students,” the statement warned. All examinations are to continue from Thursday, March 12, with deans directed to ensure smooth arrangements are in place.

Department heads have already flagged certain courses as having no scheduled exam, and the university will reschedule these separately.

Salary Dispute Rooted in a 2025 Federal Agreement

Furthermore, the current standoff traces back to a renegotiated deal struck between the Federal Government and ASUU in late 2025 that included a 40 percent upward review of academic staff salaries and introduced new allowances under the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary structure.

UNILAG lecturers say the university has failed to implement that agreement in full, paying them less than counterparts at other federal institutions of similar standing.

Management said talks with the ASUU executive would continue toward a resolution and appealed to the university community to remain calm and carry on with lawful academic activities in the meantime.