Education
THE Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Lagos State-owned universities has issued the state government a seven-day ultimatum to pay workers’ promised ₦50,000 palliative.
The unions gave the ultimatum on Monday during a news conference at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo campus.
JAC comprises the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
The affected institutions are LASU, Lagos State University of Education, Lagos State University of Science and Technology and Lagos State University College of Medicine.
Speaking for the unions, ASUU-LASU Chairman, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, said Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the ₦50,000 palliative for Lagos workers on May 1.
Bakare said workers in state-owned universities were excluded from the payment in spite of an official circular indicating their inclusion among beneficiaries.
He said workers in the mainstream civil service had received the payment, while university employees remained excluded.
According to him, the unions delayed public action while verifying the situation and engaging university managements and relevant government officials.
Bakare said the vice-chancellors had forwarded the financial implications of the payment to the state government for approval.
He said the unions also wrote to the governor, deputy governor and relevant ministries, including Tertiary Education, Establishments and Training.
However, he said the responses received were vague and failed to demonstrate a commitment to implementing the governor’s promise.
Bakare said the unions consequently resolved to issue the seven-day ultimatum after exhaustive consultations across the affected institutions.
He urged the government to act before the ultimatum expired to prevent disruption of academic activities.
“We are men and women of peace, but our members have lost patience because of the continued delay,” he said.
Bakare warned that failure to meet the demand would compel the unions’ congresses to determine their next line of action, including an indefinite strike.
He said prevailing economic hardship had worsened university workers’ plight, making the palliative particularly urgent.
The ASUU chairman also urged the state government to implement agreements reached between the Federal Government and ASUU, SSANU and NAAT.
He said several state-owned universities in Ekiti and Osun had implemented similar agreements, while Lagos had yet to do so.
Bakare said the agreements took effect from Jan. 1, 2026, leaving Lagos State owing workers seven months’ arrears.
He also urged the government to fulfil its promise to release staff buses to ease transportation challenges confronting university workers.
Bakare further appealed for the resolution of the outstanding 20 per cent welfare issue discussed during previous negotiations with the state government.
He said prompt implementation of agreements and improved staff welfare would strengthen industrial harmony and productivity across the universities.
Also speaking, NASU-LASU Chairman, Mr Obafemi Sanni, accused the state government of adopting a lackadaisical approach to implementing agreements affecting tertiary institutions.
Sanni said the unions had exhausted dialogue and warned that failure to respond before the ultimatum expired would leave them with no option but to embark on indefinite industrial action. (NAN)
F.O
Tags: Lagos Varsity palliative