The University of Lagos chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has announced an indefinite strike over what it described as “amputated” salaries paid by the university management in January and February 2026.

The decision was contained in a communique signed by Idou Kehinde, chairperson, and Adesina Arikawe, secretary, following an emergency meeting on Tuesday, as reported by Cable.

The union said the strike would commence on Wednesday and continue until the university management meets its demands.

The communique stated that the action followed “extensive and exhaustive” deliberations on the salary cuts imposed over the past two months.

“The University discriminately paid amputated salary in January 2026 to all members, i.e., (i) Akoka Campus: No EAA payment; (ii) Idi-Araba Campus: No EAA and CATA payments. The University also unilaterally and wickedly paid amputated February 2026 salary to all our members,” the statement read.

ASUU described the salary deductions as a violation of decency and accused the university administration of being “wicked, unfeeling and satanic.”

The union rejected the actions that led to the slashed pay and urged its members to withdraw their services from Wednesday until the university resolves the issue.

“In view of the foregoing and in line with the subsisting Pre-NDC NEC resolution of Thursday, May 8, 2025, Congress unanimously resolves as follows:

“(i) reject in its entirety the recent action that resulted in all our members receiving amputated January and February 2026 salaries as against what obtained in other federal institutions of cognate status;

“(ii) withdraw our services effective Wednesday, March 11, 2026, since the University has failed to pay our January and February 2026 salaries in full as at March 9, 2026;

“(iii) the withdrawal of services by our members will remain in force until the University pays in full all our members’ January and February 2026 salaries,” the communique added.

PUNCH Online recalls that in late 2025, the Federal Government and ASUU reached a landmark renegotiated agreement after years of disputes and recurring strikes.

This deal, effective from January 1, 2026, included a 40% upward review of academic staff emoluments, structured around the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) and a new Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA).

The agreement also retained and revised Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), which cover specific duties like postgraduate supervision, excess workload, and examinations.

It aired to end prolonged industrial actions, improve welfare, curb brain drain, and stabilize public universities.

However, challenges in rollout have emerged at some institutions, including delays or inconsistencies in applying the new allowances. (The PUNCH)

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