The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has alleged that many senior professors in Lagos state-owned universities now earn less than principals in the state’s secondary school due to the non-implementation of the 2025 federal government/ASUU agreement.
The union made the allegation on Wednesday during a joint press conference by its branches at the Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) held at the ASUU secretariat in LASU, Ojo.
The communiqué was jointly signed by Babalola Oluwaseun, Akinola Victor and Onigemo Murisiku, coordinators of ASUU in LASU, LASUED and LASUSTECH, respectively.
The union accused the Lagos state government of failing to implement the 2025 FG-ASUU agreement despite the January 1, 2026 commencement date, noting that eight months after implementation was due, no concrete action had been taken.
According to the union, the delay has left academics feeling neglected and raised concerns over the government’s commitment to public higher education.
“Today, many senior Professors in Lagos State-owned universities earn less in total monthly remuneration than Principals in the State’s secondary school system, despite serving under the same Government,” the communiqué reads.
“This anomaly is difficult to justify. The office of a professor represents the highest academic rank in the university system.”
ASUU said the disparity diminishes the dignity of the academic profession, noting that attaining the rank of professor often requires more than two decades of teaching, research and scholarship.
“A society that genuinely values knowledge cannot continue to reward its highest academic personnel in a manner that diminishes the dignity of the profession,” the union added.
The union also said it had written several letters to the state government urging implementation of the agreement but received no meaningful response.
It said ASUU-LASUSTECH wrote to the government on March 5, June 10 and July 16, while the LASU and LASUED branches also made repeated representations without success.
ASUU argued that Lagos, despite being Nigeria’s economic hub, had yet to implement an agreement that several states with fewer resources had already commenced.
The union said the continued delay undermines confidence in collective bargaining, weakens trust between government and organised labour, and creates the impression that the welfare of academics is not a priority for the state government.
The unions urged the government to act with wisdom, fairness, and a sense of urgency by implementing the 2025 FG-ASUU agreement and addressing other outstanding concerns, including lack of enhanced retirement benefits for professors, which is explicitly stipulated in the agreement.
They also asked the government to suspend the newly imposed high tax obligations on the academic workers.
The development comes amid growing public concerns over the non-implementation of the FG-ASUU renegotiated agreements by state governments across the country.
Only about 10 state universities have reportedly implemented the deal, leaving nearly 57 others in limbo and heightening the prospect of fresh industrial actions across public universities.