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By Gabriel Dike
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved the implementation of an agreement on allowances for workers in three state-owned universities, with arrears to be paid alongside their October and November salaries.
The governor also urged the four unions involved in the ongoing industrial action to suspend the strike and direct their members to resume work immediately.
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) embarked on an indefinite strike to demand implementation of the agreement.
The affected institutions are Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH).
The strike has crippled academic and administrative activities at the institutions. On Monday, NASU members shut the main gates of the three universities.
Sanwo-Olu’s approval was conveyed in a letter dated October 7, 2026, signed by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, and addressed to the ASUU chairmen in the three universities.
The letter, titled “Domestication, Implementation of ASUU, SSANU, NASU, NAAT Agreement in Lagos State-owned universities — Conveyance of Mr. Governor’s Approval”, outlined the allowances and payment arrangements.
“I wish to refer to the above subject and to convey the approval of Mr. Governor, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, on the demands presented by the leadership of the unions during the recent engagement with the state government,” Sule wrote.
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The approval covers the domestication and payment of 40 per cent CATA and 10 per cent Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) for academic staff, as well as monthly allowances of N70,000 for readers and N145,000 for professors.
It also provides for 35 per cent revised allowances for non-academic staff across Lagos State-owned tertiary institutions.
According to the letter, the allowances are tax-free and take effect from January 1, 2026, with arrears payable in two tranches alongside the October and November 2026 salaries.
Sule said relevant government agencies had been directed to commence implementation immediately in line with extant financial regulations.
The governor thanked the unions for their patience, maturity and understanding during negotiations, urging members to maintain industrial peace and remain dedicated to their duties.
The union chairmen and vice chancellors have received the government’s circular.
One of the chairmen told our correspondent that he had summoned an emergency congress for Thursday to consider the government’s position.
Another chairman, however, said emoluments for retired professors were not captured in the approval.
