Tension gripped the Lagos State University (LASU) community on Thursday, July 31, 2025, as both academic and non-academic staff embarked on an indefinite strike, leaving students stranded and academic activities frozen.
At the heart of the strike is a long-standing battle over staff welfare and unresolved demands. Though the full list of grievances wasn’t immediately made public, it was clear from conversations around the campus that frustration had reached a boiling point. Lecturers, administrative workers, and technical staff alike say they feel unheard and undervalued.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to LASU’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the four unions representing the university workforce—ASUU, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT—announced their decision to down tools under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee. The message was blunt: no return to work until every demand is addressed.
“The strike is not just about salaries,” one staff member told Saturday Vanguard. “It’s about dignity, fairness, and being treated like human beings, not machines.”
The letter, signed by leaders of the various unions, called on all staff—whether stationed at the Ojo main campus, LASUCOM in Ikeja, or the Epe campus—to vacate their duty posts and stand in solidarity.
Students who spoke with Vanguard expressed concern about how the strike might disrupt their education and future plans. “We’re just recovering from the last disruption,” said a 300-level student of Mass Communication. “Now this? It’s exhausting.”
As of press time, the university gates remain open, but lecture halls, offices, and labs are silent. And unless authorities step in quickly, it appears LASU is heading for a prolonged standoff with serious consequences.
