The management of the University of Lagos has criticised the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities for declaring an industrial action without following the established procedures required for such a decision.
The development followed a directive by the union’s UNILAG branch instructing its members to withdraw their services beginning Wednesday after a congress meeting held on Tuesday.
According to the leadership of the union at the institution, the decision was taken in response to concerns over what lecturers described as incomplete salary payments for the months of January and February.
The Chairman of the union’s chapter at the university, Idowu Keinde, stated that academic staff members had not received the full components of their earnings during the affected months.
He explained that several allowances that form part of the approved remuneration structure for lecturers were either partially paid or not paid at all. These include elements of the Consolidated Salary Structure for Academics, the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and the Professorial Allowance.
The union maintained that the situation had generated widespread dissatisfaction among lecturers and had prompted members to take action in order to draw attention to the issue.
However, the management of the university has responded by stating that the declaration of the industrial action did not follow due process as stipulated in the procedures guiding labour actions within the institution.
In a statement issued by the Head of the institution’s Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga‑Ibraheem, the university acknowledged reports of the decision taken by the union but expressed concern about the manner in which the directive was issued.
The management stated that it had taken note of the union’s directive asking members to suspend academic activities over the alleged non-payment of the Consolidated Academic Teaching Allowances.
Despite its reservations about the process followed by the union, the university emphasised its commitment to maintaining open dialogue with the union’s leadership in order to resolve the issues raised.
According to the statement, the university authorities have continued to engage with the executive members of the union with the aim of addressing concerns relating to the unpaid allowances and other matters affecting academic staff.
The management further reassured members of the university community that efforts were ongoing to reach a peaceful and mutually acceptable resolution through continued consultations.
While discussions continue, the university also addressed concerns regarding the ongoing academic calendar, particularly the semester examinations currently taking place at the institution.
The management noted that students are presently at a critical stage of the academic session, with examinations already underway across several faculties and departments.
It emphasised that any disruption to the examination process at this stage could have serious consequences for students, particularly those preparing for key academic and professional transitions.
According to the university, some students are scheduled to commence the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme, internships and other academic placements that depend on the timely completion of examinations.
Additionally, final-year students in certain programmes are preparing for further professional training opportunities, including those expected to proceed to the Nigerian Law School.
The management explained that disrupting examinations at this stage could negatively affect these plans and create unnecessary delays in students’ academic progression.
For this reason, the university announced that the ongoing examinations scheduled for Wednesday would proceed as planned.
However, the management clarified that in cases where students had already been informed by their faculty deans or heads of department that specific examinations would not hold, those papers would be rescheduled at a later date.
The institution further directed faculty deans and departmental heads to ensure that all necessary arrangements are put in place for the smooth and orderly conduct of examinations scheduled to continue from Thursday.
University authorities also appealed to staff, students and other members of the university community to remain calm and continue with their lawful academic activities while discussions with the union continue.
The management expressed optimism that through constructive engagement and dialogue with the union’s leadership, the issues raised by the lecturers would be resolved amicably without causing major disruption to the academic programme of the institution.
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