By Chukwudi Obasi
Industrial disputes continue to disrupt academic activities in several state-owned universities despite improved revenue flows to state governments following major economic reforms by the Federal Government.
While lecturers in Lagos and Taraba are currently locked in disputes with their governments over implementation of agreements on salaries, allowances and welfare, similar disputes in Ondo, Kaduna and Plateau have been addressed through negotiations.
The contrasting experiences have renewed attention on the funding and management of state universities and the ability of governments to meet agreements reached with university workers.
The issue has become more prominent following reforms under President Bola Tinubu, including petrol subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms and changes to the tax system, which have altered the revenue environment for the three tiers of government.
Education-sector analysts, Seun Balogun, however, say higher revenue does not automatically translate into sufficient funding for universities, given competing obligations and the recurrent nature of salary and welfare commitments.
Academic activities at Lagos State University, Lagos State University of Education and Lagos State University of Science and Technology have been disrupted following an indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
The three ASUU branches embarked on the strike after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum over the alleged failure of the Lagos State Government to implement provisions of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.
Among their demands is the domestication and implementation of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and other welfare provisions.
The unions described the action as a “rescue mission for Lagos State education.”
An education policy analyst, Joseph Eteng, said the central issue should be examined beyond the size of government revenue.
“Government must disclose what is budgeted for universities, what is actually released and the recurring cost of implementing agreements,” Eteng said.
A student at one of the affected universities, Erasmus Salami, said repeated strikes were disrupting academic plans.
“Students lose lectures, examinations are postponed, and graduation dates become uncertain whenever there is a strike,” Salami said.
The Lagos State Government’s response to the latest demands was not available at the time of filing.
Ondo State presents a different picture.
The state’s three public universities had been embroiled in disputes over salaries, allowances and implementation of the federal government-unions agreement.
The government has since reached an agreement with ASUU, SSANU, NAAT and NASU covering domestication of the federal agreement on CONUASS, outstanding salary adjustments and allowances, and improved staff welfare.
An education researcher, James Nagudia, said the effectiveness of the agreement would depend largely on implementation.
“Signing an agreement is only the first stage. The real test is whether the government releases the
At Kaduna State University, ASUU suspended its strike after Governor Uba Sani approved implementation and domestication of the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement from October 2026.
The state government also approved payment of nine months of accrued arrears covering January to September.
The package includes the revised CONUASS, Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and other applicable salary adjustments and allowances.
Plateau State University, Bokkos, also suspended its strike following negotiations.
Its six-point agreement included implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement, payment of arrears from January 2026, commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme, provision of secure staff quarters and payment of 22 months’ arrears of wage awards.
An analyst, Yakubu Nguyep, said the disputes increasingly go beyond salaries.
“When demands include pensions, housing, research and accumulated allowances, it shows a broader institutional funding problem,” Nguyep said.
In Taraba, ASUU at Taraba State University issued a final 14-day ultimatum to Governor Agbu Kefas over outstanding provisions of the 2025 agreement.
The ultimatum, which began on September 14, expires on September 28.
The union said previous engagements had failed to produce concrete and verifiable action but remained open to dialogue.
The university had earlier experienced an industrial dispute involving salary backlogs, earned academic allowances and pension-related concerns.
The government initially provided ₦200 million to offset salary arrears, followed by monthly payments, with the intervention later increased to ₦500 million.
A student, Abdul Ahmed, said another strike would further disrupt academic activities.
“We need the government and the union to resolve this before it becomes another strike. Every strike means students lose valuable time,” Ahmed said.
ASUU’s national leadership has acknowledged that implementation varies across states.
Following its September 5 National Executive Council meeting, the union identified Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Kebbi, Katsina and Borno among states where implementation had commenced.
The development indicates that state governments are responding differently to the same national agreement.
Analysts say the differences could reflect variations in state finances, budgetary priorities, existing arrears and the cost of implementing the agreements.
States also face competing demands, including infrastructure, health, security, pensions and debt obligations.
An education analyst, Oluwatosin Koiki, said governments should make realistic financial commitments before entering agreements with university workers.
Koiki said, “Where a government signs an agreement, it should have a clear financing plan for implementation. Otherwise, today’s settlement can become tomorrow’s strike.”
Students remain the immediate casualties when disputes persist.
A student activist, Dapo Baruwa, said prolonged strikes could turn a four-year programme into five or six years, affecting employment and further education.
The recurring disputes have therefore renewed questions about the sustainability of state-owned universities and whether governments are providing predictable funding for salaries, research, infrastructure and other institutional needs.
