The Lagos Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government of failing to fully implement critical components of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, particularly issues relating to unpaid allowances, salary arrears and lecturers’ welfare.
The union warned that the continued delay in fulfilling the agreement was worsening tension in the nation’s universities and accelerating the migration of experienced academics abroad.
ASUU made the allegations during a press conference held on Wednesday at the University of Lagos, where it reviewed the implementation status of the agreement across universities within the Lagos Zone.
The zone comprises the University of Lagos, Lagos State University, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Lagos State University of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and Tai Solarin University of Education.
Reading the union’s communiqué, ASUU Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Adesola Nassir, said implementation of the agreement had remained inconsistent, especially regarding allowances and outstanding salary obligations owed to lecturers.
According to him, the agreement was the product of nearly a decade of renegotiation, yet government actions since its signing had failed to meet expectations.
The union specifically lamented that key provisions of the agreement, including Consolidated Academic Tool Allowances, Earned Academic Allowances and Professorial Allowances, had not been fully incorporated into the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure as agreed.
ASUU accused the government of implementing the agreement in a fragmented and haphazard manner, thereby creating disparities across universities.
Among the unresolved issues listed by the union were arrears of the 25–35 per cent salary award, promotion arrears, unremitted third-party deductions such as check-off dues, cooperative deductions and pension contributions.
The union also highlighted salary shortfalls linked to the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and the withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries arising from the 2022 ASUU strike action.
“We are perturbed that the government failed to take into consideration the strength of each university to adequately cover the shortfall in the salary component of recurrent cost. The consequence has been haphazard implementation,” the union stated.
ASUU further questioned the willingness of government authorities to reimburse universities for funds already expended in an attempt to implement parts of the agreement.
“We are equally disturbed that the government’s attitude has not convinced the system that it has the commitment and capacity to reimburse the universities for the various amounts mobilised to rescue the situation,” the communiqué added.
The union described the failure to remit deducted funds as both fraudulent and harmful to industrial harmony.
“To make deductions from salaries and fail to remit the same is fraudulent and criminal, to say the least. To also refuse to pay staff for services already rendered is oppressive and inimical to industrial harmony,” ASUU declared.
The union warned that the worsening welfare conditions in universities were fueling brain drain and weakening the country’s academic system.
“The various fronts from which our membership is being oppressed cannot augur well for occupational satisfaction and commitment to the university system,” it stated.
“Government must address these challenges now, otherwise the universities would continue to bleed from loss of competent staff of all cadres to other academic climes.”
ASUU also called on the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently implement the agreement across Lagos State-owned institutions, including Lagos State University, Lagos State University of Science and Technology and Lagos State University of Education.
The union argued that Lagos, given its economic strength, should lead in implementing agreements reached with university unions.
“If any state should be first to implement the agreement, and even enhance it, it should be Lagos State for many obvious reasons,” the communiqué noted.
ASUU further urged authorities to resolve lingering labour disputes in universities within the zone, including promotion-related concerns at the University of Lagos and unresolved welfare issues affecting staff.
The union warned that unless urgent steps are taken to settle outstanding obligations, the fragile industrial peace currently existing in Nigerian universities may collapse.
“Our membership is being oppressed by governments, federal and state. This cannot be allowed to continue,” the union declared.
It added that failure to address the issues promptly could trigger another round of industrial action across universities.
