Academic and non-academic staff of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, will resume work on Wednesday after suspending the strike that began on 31 July.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) — comprising the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, and the National Association of Academic Technologists — reached the decision during a congress held on the university premises on Monday.
Since the strike began, academic and administrative activities at the institution have been paralysed. On 2 August, the LASU Senate suspended the 2024/2025 second-semester examinations, initially scheduled to start on 4 August, pending further notice.
Staff members who attended Monday’s congress confirmed to The PUNCH that work would resume on Wednesday, with JAC expected to release a communiqué detailing the conditions for suspending the strike.
Last Thursday, JAC representatives and the university management met the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and signed an agreement after five hours of negotiations. The deal provided for the payment of 12 months out of the 23-month arrears from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increments owed to staff. The state government agreed to cover nine months, while LASU management would pay the remaining three months. Payments are to be made in instalments from August to December 2025.
Although some staff initially rejected the offer at an emergency congress on Friday, accusing JAC leaders of accepting an “insufficient” deal without prior approval, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, appealed for a return to work, citing the negative impact of prolonged industrial action on students, the institution, and its reputation.
Following JAC’s decision, the LASU Senate on Monday approved the resumption of academic and social activities from Wednesday. It also set 18 August 2025 as the new start date for the previously suspended second-semester examinations.
A statement issued by the Coordinator of the Centre for Information and Public Relations, Thomas-Onashile Oluwayemisi, directed students to return to their hostels on the Ojo, Ikeja, and Epe campuses from Wednesday and prepare adequately for the examinations.