BREAKING: LASU Shuts Down as Staff Declare Indefinite Strike Over Wage Disparities, Halting Exams and Lectures

By Busterblog.com | July 29, 2025 – 07:50 AM WAT

Academic and non-academic activities at Lagos State University (LASU) have been abruptly brought to a halt following the declaration of an indefinite strike early Tuesday morning. The industrial action, announced at 6:12 AM WAT, has suspended all ongoing examinations and lectures, throwing thousands of students into confusion and uncertainty.

At the heart of the shutdown lies a long-standing demand for wage parity and welfare improvements, notably the non-implementation of the 25-35% wage increase approved by the federal government in January 2024. According to a recent Premium Times report dated August 1, 2025, LASU staff unions claim that while other institutions have begun implementing the increment, their demands have continued to fall on deaf ears.

Union leaders allege that salary disparities between LASU and newer institutions such as Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) and Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) have worsened the situation. “How do you expect experienced lecturers and senior staff in LASU to earn less than their counterparts in these newer, less-developed institutions?” one academic staff representative lamented.

This isn't the first time LASU finds itself in this position. Historical data from the National Universities Commission (NUC) shows that Nigeria’s public university system has long been plagued by industrial action. A particularly telling example is the 2018 three-month non-teaching staff strike, which, like many before it, ended in partial concessions without lasting reforms.

While the Lagos State Government has yet to issue an official statement, multiple sources within the institution reveal that staff frustration has peaked following several failed dialogues and unfulfilled promises, especially regarding salary structure reviews and delayed promotions.

The timing of this strike is particularly disruptive. With final year and postgraduate students in the middle of examinations and many others preparing for practical assessments, the suspension could result in a significant academic backlog, jeopardizing graduation timelines and academic calendar continuity.

Students, meanwhile, are caught in the crossfire. “I just finished studying all night for my exam this morning, only to wake up to the news that everything is canceled,” said Sandra Obasi, a 400-level Law student. Others fear the disruption could affect their NYSC mobilization and scholarship opportunities.

This crisis also reflects broader issues within Nigeria’s higher education landscape. Despite President Tinubu’s recent four-month salary waiver for academic staff and efforts to increase education sector funding, policy inconsistency and implementation gaps remain persistent challenges.

Experts warn that unless urgent, structured dialogue begins between the LASU administration, staff unions, and the Lagos State Government, the strike could escalate, with ripple effects across other institutions in the state.

As things stand, the gates of LASU are shut—not just physically, but symbolically—on the hopes of students and the future of tertiary education in Nigeria’s commercial capital.