Workers at Lagos State-owned universities are poised to initiate an indefinite strike starting from midnight on October 3, 2026, due to the government's failure to address long-standing salary arrears. The Joint Action Committee (JAC), which represents various university staff unions, announced the strike during a media briefing, citing months of unsuccessful negotiations with the Lagos State Government.

The JAC comprises the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). The affected institutions include Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), and Lagos State University of Education (LASUED).

Prof. Ibrahim Bakare, the JAC Chairman, expressed frustration over the government's repeated failure to implement agreements reached with the unions. He noted that despite a resolution signed on August 31, which included revised allowance structures and the payment of outstanding arrears, workers received their September salaries without the promised adjustments. This has resulted in an accumulated debt of nine months in salary arrears, covering January to September 2026.

Bakare stated, "We have demonstrated unprecedented patience, maturity and commitment to peaceful dialogue. However, our patience has been pushed to the absolute limit. We have exhausted every possible administrative channel to avert this crisis." He emphasized that the unions' demands are legitimate and financially feasible for the state government.

Among the key demands are the full implementation of the signed 2026 Federal Government/unions' agreement, payment of the nine-month salary arrears, and adherence to the non-taxable status of negotiated allowances. The unions are also requesting a 15 percent “Lagos Factor” allowance to help mitigate the economic pressures of living in Lagos, alongside fulfilling previous commitments made by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, including a 20 percent salary increase announced in 2023 and the provision of five Marcopolo buses for transportation.

As the strike date approaches, the JAC has urged students, parents, and civil society organizations to hold the state government accountable for any disruptions to academic and administrative activities. Bakare concluded by stating that immediate executive action from the governor could prevent the impending shutdown of the universities, highlighting the urgency of the situation.