Academic and administrative activities at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Ijanikin, were brought to a halt as the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) declared an indefinite strike.
The unionโs decision stemmed from the Lagos State governmentโs and the universityโs failure to address its long-standing demands, despite numerous negotiations.
The NASU/LASUED Chairman, Badmus Adesola, and Secretary, Adelakun Segun, highlighted their membersโ financial hardships caused by unpaid allowances and stagnant wages.
They noted that efforts to resolve these issues through dialogue had been exhausted, leaving the strike as their last option.
Among the unionโs demands is the payment of 72 months of arrears for hazard and transport allowances, which have remained unpaid since January 2013.
They also seek a 25-35% salary increase to cope with the rising cost of living.
Adesola emphasized: โWe can no longer endure the financial strain of unpaid allowances and stagnant wages. This strike is a fight for justice and fairness.โ
He added that many union members struggle to meet their daily needs, and the governmentโs failure to fulfil promises has left them with no alternative but to take drastic action.
The union criticized the delay in implementing an agreed salary increase and called for equal pay to reflect their contributions to the education sector.
โOur demands are not excessive; they are necessary for survival. We were promised resolutions by January 6, yet nothing has changed,โ Adesola stated.
The strike, according to NASU, aims to secure better working conditions and improved compensation, ultimately enhancing the quality of education at LASUED.
In response, a senior LASUED management official, speaking anonymously, assured that efforts were underway to address the unionโs concerns.
โThe university management is actively working on resolving the issues raised by NASU,โ the source said.