The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has made a startling allegation that senior professors in Lagos State-owned universities currently earn less in monthly salary than secondary school principals in the state’s public service.
The allegation was made on Wednesday during an emergency joint press conference held by ASUU branches in Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), and Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), at the ASUU Secretariat, LASU, Ojo.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Oluwaseun Babalola, displayed what he described as the payslip of a secondary school principal showing a monthly earning of N799,000, insisting that no professor in LASU currently earns such an amount.
He accused the Lagos State Government of failing to implement the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement, eight months after its agreed commencement date of January 1, 2026, describing the situation as subjecting lecturers to starvation wages.
“We have invited you today to draw the attention of the Lagos State Government, the people of Lagos State, and indeed all Nigerians to the continued failure of the State Government to implement the provisions of the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement in its three public universities, despite the mutually agreed commencement date of January 1, 2026,” Babalola said.
He also criticised increased tax deductions on lecturers despite the non-implementation of the new salary structure, noting that associate professors and full professors were paying over N120,000 monthly in tax deductions from salaries he described as wholly inadequate.
“Somebody that is already complaining of what he is earning is not enough. You are increasing your deduction,” he said.
The union appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently address the situation and implement the 2025 agreement across all three state-owned universities.
ASUU also demanded the unconditional reinstatement of five dismissed ASUU-LASU executives, alleging they were punished for their union activities between seven and nine years ago. The affected officials include former Chairman Dr. Isaac Oyewunmi, Vice Chairman Dr. Suenu, Secretary Dr. Tony Dansu, Assistant Secretary Dr. Oyekan, and Treasurer Dr. (Mrs.) Sonibare.
ASUU-LASUED Chairman, Dr. Victor Akinola, alleged that internal mechanisms for addressing grievances within the universities had become ineffective, with complaints to governing councils consistently going unanswered. He also alleged that management threats had created an atmosphere of fear on campuses, discouraging lecturers from participating in union activities.
ASUU-LASUSTECH Chairman, Comrade Murisiku Onigemo, blamed irregular promotion exercises for the low morale among academic staff, saying the process had not consistently followed established guidelines.
The union called on the Lagos State Government to immediately implement the 2025 ASUU agreement, address outstanding welfare issues, reinstate the dismissed union leaders, and put an end to what it described as the victimisation of union officials.
Digital Operations Manager at The Students Forum Nigeria.
