Akeredolu Gbolahan, Editor-in-chief, LASU Conscience
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Lagos State University, Ojo, held a press conference over the ongoing indefinite strike at the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) Secretariat of the Lagos State University, LASU on Wednesday, 11th December 2024.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) is the newly established umbrella comprising all unions in Lagos State University. These unions include the Academic Staff Union of Universities, LASU (ASUU-LASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, LASU (SSANU-LASU), Non-Academic Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, LASU ( NASU-LASU), and National Association of Academic Technologies, LASU (NAAT- LASU).
The press conference aimed to present the unions’ collective position and demands on the ongoing indefinite strike action at Lagos State University, which began after the close of work on Friday, 6th December 2024.
The three major demands presented by the Staff unions include the implementation of a 25%/35% salary increase for all staff of Tertiary Institutions in Lagos State according to the agreement between the governments and the staff unions, harmonisation of salary disparity between members of staff of Lagos State University and those of other state-owned Tertiary Institutions of the Lagos State, and Implementation of the new National Minimum Wage for the members in accordance with the relevant procedures and processes as approved by the National Minimum Wage Law (2024).
The chairman of SSANU-LASU, Comrade Oluwaseyi Lawal, urged the governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to kindly expedite action on the two reports on his desk.
‘We want his approval. We want him to put a smile on all staff of Lagos State University. We love the status of the university, and we do not want it to retrogress. This is the time to intervene, and we are quite sure he will honour us and restore total peace to LASU.’ He affirmed.
According to the statement made by the NASU-LASU chairman, Obafemi Sanni, the difference between the supposed implemented salary and the current one per month is a huge amount of money. He stated that this case has been presented to the state governor since last year.
‘The reason we are here at this point is because of the lackadaisical approach of the government.’ He complained.
He also mentioned that the government argued that the regulatory bodies of polytechnics and colleges of education in Lagos State are different from those of LASU. However, the question Union had consistently raised is whether the difference between the regulatory body of Lagos State Polytechnics and colleges of education is different from other states.
The JAC Union also mentioned the absence of staff buses, which have not been provided since the regime of His Excellency Governor Raji Fashola. The buses have become bad due to the non-usage.
It was also stated that the government promised a 20% salary increment during his election campaign. This has not been implemented to date but only to those at Alausa.
The Union also made it known to the student populace that this action was for both the good of the students and the Union.
‘We can’t sacrifice the goodwill of our members on behalf of the university.’
Concluding, it was clearly made known that ‘in the course of agitating for our legitimate demands from the government, the Union under the platform of JAC, had honourably embraced the fundamental principles of collective bargaining and consensus building to prevent the industrial conflict from degenerating into a full-blown industrial action that will upset the peace of and stability we have enjoyed in our Institution for almost 10 years.’
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Iyanu Sogbesan, Correspondent, LASU Conscience
