The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that state-owned universities across the country could witness another round of industrial action over the failure of some state governments to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement on salaries and staff welfare.
The union specifically expressed concern over the situation in Lagos, Gombe and Plateau states, warning that continued delays could disrupt academic activities at Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Gombe State University and Plateau State University.
The warning comes amid growing agitation by ASUU members in different zones over the non-implementation of the agreement in state-owned universities.
At separate press conferences held on Thursday in Ikorodu and Gombe, union leaders said that although the agreement took effect on January 1, 2026, several state governments were yet to implement its provisions despite participating in negotiations that culminated in its signing on December 23, 2025.
The 2025 agreement replaced the long-standing 2009 pact between the Federal Government and ASUU. It introduced a 40 per cent salary increase for lecturers and established the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance to support research and publication expenses.
ASUU warned that unless state governments act quickly, more universities could join institutions already affected by industrial disputes linked to the implementation of the agreement.
In Lagos, the union urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to immediately implement the agreement to avert what it described as an emerging industrial crisis capable of shutting down LASU, LASUED and LASUSTECH.
Addressing journalists at LASUSTECH in Ikorodu, the ASUU Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Adesola Nassir, said discussions with the Lagos State Government over the past six months had failed to produce meaningful progress.
He added, “The non-implementation of the agreement being experienced by our members has left academic staff in the Lagos State-owned universities feeling neglected, undervalued, and increasingly uncertain about the government’s commitment to their welfare.”
Nassir recalled that ASUU spent “eight torturous years” renegotiating the 2009 agreement before the new pact was eventually signed in 2025.
“To our utter disappointment, the Lagos State Government appears to be playing the ostrich on this matter,” Nassir said.
He argued that Nigeria operates “one university system,” insisting that the refusal of some state governments to implement the agreement was unacceptable.
According to him, prolonged delays have already affected staff morale across LASU, LASUSTECH and LASUED.
“Where staff begin to feel despondent, as is now the case at LASU, LASUSTECH and LASUED, management of the system becomes problematic and this triggers institutional decline in all its ramifications, inclusive of staff apathy, ethical drift and sharp practices, reduced graduate quality and eventually disruption in the academic calendar,” he said.
Nassir also accused the Lagos State Government of paying inadequate attention to staff welfare and criticised what he described as the poor handling of internal disputes at LASU and LASUED.
“ASUU remains committed to constructive engagement. But we would not allow any state to trivialise our committed struggle to improve the lot of our universities in producing high-quality graduates that would power societal development at state and national levels,” Nassir said.
He disclosed that ASUU had formally written to all state governments with state-owned universities through their vice-chancellors, adding that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had also communicated with the institutions on the issue.
Nassir noted that some state universities had already shut down over the implementation dispute and said the union fully supported those actions.
“The Lagos State Government is also yet to indicate when it plans to implement the agreement.
“We feel strongly that Lagos State should not be on this negative pedestal as it has the resources not just to implement the agreement, but to enhance it given the peculiarities of the state.”
He announced that the Lagos Zone would support whatever action the ASUU branches in LASU, LASUSTECH and LASUED decide to take if the government fails to implement the agreement.
“We at the Lagos Zone of ASUU will give our full support to LASU, LASUED and LASUSTECH in whatever decision they choose to take to get the agreement implemented by the Lagos State Government.
“We are thereby alerting the Lagos State Government of brewing unrest in the state.
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“Government, not ASUU, should be held responsible if all universities belonging to Lagos State are thrown into avoidable crises or totally shut down on account of the poor response of the government to the concerns of our members. A stitch in time saves nine,” he said.
He appealed to Governor Sanwo-Olu, in his capacity as Visitor to the three universities, to resolve the matter and ensure his administration ends without disruption to the state’s university system.
ASUU also demanded immediate action on other unresolved issues, including the termination of the appointment of its LASUED chairperson over what it described as a minor administrative matter, unpaid entitlements owed members at the institution and the dismissal of ASUU officials at LASU, which the union said has remained unresolved for nearly a decade.
Finally, we call on the governor, his lieutenants and all stakeholders in Lagos State to mediate in these matters and resolve them in earnest,” Nassir said.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi Zone of ASUU accused the governments of Gombe and Plateau states of failing to implement the agreement, warning that the situation could lead to industrial unrest in both states.
Speaking at Gombe State University, ASUU Bauchi Zonal Coordinator, Timothy-Aku Namo, said the two state governments had yet to implement the agreement despite commitments made during negotiations.
He said the delay had worsened the welfare of lecturers and increased frustration among academic staff.
Namo explained that although the Federal Government had released funds for the salary component of the agreement and established a monitoring committee to oversee implementation, many state governments had failed to fulfil their obligations.
He revealed that a forensic audit conducted by ASUU’s National Executive Council on June 21, 2026, found that only Sa’adu Zungur University in Bauchi State and Ekiti State University had implemented the agreement among the state-owned universities reviewed.
Describing Gombe State University and Plateau State University as major centres of the implementation crisis, Namo appealed to the visitors of both institutions to intervene before the situation escalates into another industrial dispute.