The management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has moved to calm growing concerns among students after the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declared an industrial action over salary-related issues.
Despite the strike directive issued by the union, the university has assured students that semester examinations will continue as scheduled, insisting that academic activities must proceed while efforts are being made to resolve the dispute.
The development has sparked widespread discussions among students and parents across Nigeria, particularly as many undergraduates in federal universities remain sensitive to disruptions in the academic calendar due to the long history of ASUU strikes.
How the Dispute Began
The UNILAG branch of ASUU announced its decision to embark on strike following a congress held earlier this week, where members expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as “amputated salaries.”
According to the union, academic staff members received incomplete salary payments for January and February, with several components of their remuneration either reduced or omitted entirely.
The branch chairman of ASUU, Professor Idou Keinde, explained that the issue involves missing salary components tied to the academic salary structure used in Nigerian universities.
Among the affected components reportedly missing from the lecturers’ pay are:
- Consolidated Salary Structure for Academic Staff (CONSAL) adjustments
- Consolidated Academic Teaching Allowance
- Professorial allowances and related benefits
The union argued that the failure to pay these entitlements in full undermines staff welfare and violates agreements previously reached with the federal authorities overseeing university funding.
Following the resolution of the congress, ASUU members were directed to withdraw their services immediately until the matter is addressed.
University Management Responds
In a swift response, UNILAG management said the decision to embark on strike was taken prematurely and without exhausting the available dialogue channels within the institution.
The university’s Head of the Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, stated that discussions were already ongoing with the leadership of ASUU to clarify the salary discrepancies and ensure the situation is resolved.
She emphasized that the university administration remains committed to maintaining stability on campus while addressing legitimate concerns raised by academic staff.
Management also noted that several federal institutions across the country have experienced similar salary adjustment issues recently, largely linked to payroll processing and system updates.
Examinations Will Continue
Despite the strike declaration, UNILAG authorities have directed that all semester examinations should proceed as planned beginning Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Deans, heads of departments, and faculty administrators have been instructed to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that examinations are conducted without disruption.
The university explained that halting examinations at this stage of the academic calendar could have serious consequences for thousands of students who are nearing the completion of the semester.
Officials pointed out that many students are currently preparing for critical academic transitions, including:
Students scheduled to proceed for the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) placements.
Final-year students expected to continue to professional training programmes such as the Nigerian Law School.
Students preparing to graduate or move into the next academic level within the university system.
Allowing examinations to continue, the university said, will prevent unnecessary delays that could affect academic progression for many students.
However, management acknowledged that certain examinations may be rescheduled if specific departments had already informed students that their tests would not hold due to the strike situation.
Negotiations Still Ongoing
University authorities confirmed that dialogue between the administration and the ASUU leadership remains ongoing as both parties seek a mutually acceptable resolution.
Observers note that disputes between university management and ASUU branches are not uncommon within Nigeria’s public university system, where salary structures, funding concerns, and welfare issues frequently trigger tensions.
In this case, the UNILAG administration expressed optimism that the matter could be resolved quickly through continued engagement with the union.
What Students Should Expect
For now, students of the University of Lagos are expected to continue their examinations unless officially informed otherwise by their faculty or department.
Many students have welcomed the assurance from management, noting that uninterrupted examinations would help them maintain their academic timelines and avoid delays in graduation.
However, uncertainty still remains on campus as the strike directive from ASUU remains in place pending a resolution of the salary dispute.
The coming days will likely determine whether the negotiations between the university management and the union will lead to a quick settlement or escalate into a wider disruption of academic activities at one of Nigeria’s most prominent federal universities.
