Education
UNILAG Lecturers Begin Indefinite Strike Over ‘Amputated’ January, February Salaries
Lecturers at the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter, have commenced an indefinite strike over what they described as “amputated” salaries paid to members for January and February 2026.
The decision followed an emergency congress of the union held on Tuesday, where members resolved to withdraw their services until the university management pays the outstanding balance of their salaries in full.
In a communiqué jointly signed by the branch Chairperson, Idou Kehinde, and Secretary, Adesina Arikawe, the union said the industrial action takes effect from Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
ASUU said the strike became necessary after what it described as “extensive and exhaustive deliberations” on the salary deductions implemented by the university administration over the past two months.
According to the union, lecturers across the institution received incomplete salaries in January, with members on the Akoka campus allegedly not paid Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), while those at the Idi-Araba campus were reportedly denied both EAA and the Clinical Academic Training Allowance (CATA).
The union further accused the university management of repeating the same action in February, describing the development as unfair and unacceptable.
“The university discriminately paid amputated salary in January 2026 to all members. At Akoka campus there was no EAA payment, while at Idi-Araba campus there was neither EAA nor CATA payment,” the communiqué stated.
ASUU condemned the deductions, describing them as a violation of acceptable labour practices and an indication of insensitivity by the university administration.
The union also referenced an earlier resolution of its National Executive Council, stating that members would withdraw their services whenever salaries were not paid in full.
ASUU therefore directed its members to stay away from academic activities beginning March 11 until the university authorities settle all outstanding salary payments for January and February.
The strike is expected to disrupt academic activities at the university if the dispute between the union and the management is not resolved quickly.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) University of Science and Technology in Abaji is poised to begin operations under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
FCT Minister Dr. Nyesom Wike announced during a thank-you visit to Abaji, Abuja, that the administration has already started building the essential infrastructure and facilities for the university’s launch.
Dr. Wike urged residents to remain patient, assuring them that the university will soon become a reality under President Tinubu’s administration.
In addition to the university, the Minister pledged to construct the Gurara Market bridge, tackle gully erosion in two communities, and reactivate a 15-kilometre abandoned road connecting other local communities. He also revealed plans to upgrade all third-class chiefs to second-class chiefs and all second-class chiefs to first-class chiefs.
Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi, Chairman of Abaji Area Council, highlighted that Abaji previously had minimal Federal Government presence and thanked President Tinubu for giving the area a renewed sense of inclusion and development.
The Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has resolved to engage the state government through dialogue rather than embark on industrial action over unresolved demands affecting teachers in the state.
The decision followed deliberations among the union’s leadership and members during a meeting held in Asaba, where officials discussed the progress of ongoing engagements with government representatives on issues concerning teachers’ welfare and career advancement.
Union leaders said dialogue remains the most constructive approach to resolving the concerns raised by teachers while avoiding disruptions to academic activities across public schools in the state.
According to the union, discussions with relevant authorities are already underway, with efforts focused on addressing key demands that include improved welfare packages and career progression opportunities for teachers within the state’s public service structure.
One of the major issues raised by the union is the call for the creation of positions such as Headmaster-General and Principal-General, which would allow qualified teachers with higher academic qualifications to advance to senior levels within the civil service.
The NUT leadership appealed to members to remain calm and allow the negotiation process to continue, expressing optimism that the government would respond positively to their requests.
However, the union noted that it would continue to monitor the outcome of the discussions and may reconsider its next line of action if the dialogue fails to produce satisfactory results.
Students of a primary and comprehensive college in the Ogba area of Lagos have shared their terrifying experience after a section of a classroom block collapsed within the school premises on Monday.
The incident occurred around 11 a.m., sending panic across the school as students and teachers rushed for safety when the structure suddenly came down.
Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were recorded. However, the collapse caused confusion within the school compound as students hurriedly fled the area.
The affected building is located along Adudatu Street, behind County Hospital in the Aguda area of Ogba.
Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said the incident happened during a controlled demolition exercise on the already distressed building. Despite this explanation, some eyewitnesses described the moment as chaotic, with students screaming and running out of the premises.
A fire service official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said the students had been evacuated from the building before the demolition began.
Some students, however, said they heard a loud cracking sound before the structure collapsed.
One of the students, Emmanuel, said he was in class when he suddenly heard the alarming sound.
“I was in class when I heard a loud cracking sound. The next thing we saw was dust everywhere. We were out for lunch when it happened and I ran quickly into another classroom block,” he said.
Another student, 14-year-old Blessing, said the collapse caused thick dust to fill the air, heightening panic among students.
“I thought the collapse might affect other classrooms, so I ran out of the school compound as fast as I could,” she said.
The school population is estimated to be between 600 and 800 students.
Following the incident, members of the state emergency response team secured the premises and restricted access to the affected area.
Residents in the neighbourhood said concerns had previously been raised about the condition of the building after parts of its roof reportedly began to fall off.
Shakiru Amodu of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the building had earlier shown signs of structural distress and was marked for demolition.
According to him, all students had been evacuated before the demolition process began, which prevented casualties.
“The affected building had earlier shown signs of distress and was marked for demolition. All the students had been evacuated before the exercise began, so no one was injured and no life was lost,” Amodu said.
He added that the agency later secured the scene and restricted movement around the area.