By Gabriel Dike
The Lagos State Government has agreed to pay 12 months out of the 23 months’ arrears of 25%/35% salary increase owed workers of the Lagos State University (LASU).
The agreement to pay the 12 months out of the 23 months was signed on Thursday, August 7, between the Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
In a swift reaction, the workers of LASU at an emergency congress on Friday, August 8, 2025, rejected the state government’s offer and berated their leadership of JAC for signing the agreement without consulting the congress.
Despite the rejection of the agreement, LASU management has announced the resumption of academic activities on Monday, August 11.
Also, the Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, in a personal message to the workers, appealed to them to accept the state government’s offer.
JAC, in a letter to the Deputy Governor, Dr Hamzat, informed the state government of the congress’s resolutions to reject the 12-month payment offer and continue the industrial action.
The letter, dated Friday, August 8, 2025, was signed by the chairman, ASUU-LASU, Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, his Secretary, Dr Sylvester Idowu, chairman, SSANU-LASU, Oluwaseyi Lawal, his Secretary, Waheed Majekodunmi, chairman, NAAT-LASU, Olujimi Adejo, his Secretary, Adewunmi Fadiora, and chairman, NASU-LASU, Obafemi Sanni, and the Secretary, Muhammed Kelani, insisting on full payment of the 23-month arrears.
JAC informed the state government that congress reviewed the agreement and rejected the payment of 12 months out of 23-month arrears of 25%/35% salary increase as insufficient.
Congress resolved that full payment of the 23-month arrears be made under an appropriate arrangement deemed fit by the government and LASU management.
“The payment should be made in five tranches: four tranches of five months each and the last tranche of three months, with the first payment commencing in August 2025,” congress argued.
The congress also resolved that the government and LASU management ensure efforts are directed at paying the full 23-month arrears of 25%/35% as demanded and that other outstanding issues be presented to the governor for approval.
In the signed agreement, only 12-month arrears would be paid. The government would pay nine months and LASU management would pay three months.
Based on the agreement, LASU management, in a circular, directed staff to resume work on Monday, August 11, stating that the state government has met their demands.
LASU VC, in a message to her colleagues in apparent response to the congress’s decision to reject the offer, said the voices of staff have been heard. She said together with the leadership of JAC, they have acted in their best interest.
Olatunji-Bello added, “Today, the state government has made offers in response to our demands. I know they may not yet meet every expectation. But I ask that we accept them as part of the realities of negotiations, and life, where we win some and lose some, while allowing academic and administrative activities to resume this Monday, 11th August 2025, as directed by management.
“The longer we remain apart from our students and our work, the greater the ripple effect on our community, on our young people, on our reputation, and on the very progress we have made together.
“I ask you to remember that we are not on opposite sides. We are partners, bound by the same vision of a Lagos State University that values its staff and serves its students with pride. If we have been able to achieve so much in less than four years of working hand in hand, I am confident we can reach all our goals, but it will require patience, unity, and trust.
“Please trust me when I say: I am for you, and will continue to work for your best interest. Let us return to our duty posts, not as a concession, but as a demonstration of our belief in each other and in our collective strength.”
