Uncovering the cause of the strike action and the sudden “Christmas break”

Many LASuites are currently in confusion, especially the new intakes. The whole issue played out within a short period before it could be well comprehended. The whole ASUU-LASU seems like a web, but this is how we simplify it:

All public universities in Nigeria belong to ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities), which is the main union representing lecturers. However, in LASU (Lagos State University), there have been other internal unions within the university that have been in disagreement for over three years. This division has made it difficult for LASU to actively participate in ASUU’s broader activities or struggles.

Now, a serious issue is affecting LASU, and all unions realize they need to put their differences aside and unite to fight for justice together. The mutual issue here is the increment of salary.

Due to the common issue, these independent bodies have to align and form a body, which is the Joint Action Committee ( JAC). This body is made up of ASUU-LASU ( Academic Staff Union of Universities, LASU), SSANU ( Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities), NASU (Non-Academic Union of Educational and Associated Institutions) and, NAAT ( National Association of Academic Technologies).

How it started. 

On Sunday, December 8th, 2024, the management of Lagos State University announced its decision to give a Christmas break to students from Monday, December 10th, 2024, to Monday, January 6th, 2025.

To many students, this sudden break by the management of the University has come as a big shock; to the freshers, it might seem compassionate on the part of the University, while to the staylites, it has confirmed their suspicions about the school being on strike.

Refreshing your memory, a letter dated Friday, December 6th by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of ASUU, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT, addressed to the state government, announced its decision to embark

“on a total and indefinite strike action, effective from the 6th of December, 2024, after the day’s close of work, a part of the letter reads.”

This news immediately sent shivers down the spine of many students, with many connecting the dots to the recent strike action carried out by the Non-academic staff union, which saw the libraries and administrative offices being closed down since resumption.

Interestingly, in the early hours of Saturday morning, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State University Students Union released a press release signed by the President of the Students Union, debunking the letter sent by the JAC. In the letter, he stated that

“we wish to officially clarify that the strike pertains slowly to the non-academic staff of the university and does not extend to the academic staff, thereby ensuring that academic activities remain uninterrupted.”

“With this context, we are pleased to announce that all academic activities will resume as scheduled on the forthcoming Monday, a part of the letter reads.”

The letter by the Students Union PRO immediately confused many students, with many unclear on who to believe between the JAC’s letter and the Students Union PRO’s letter. This was a new development at Lagos State University and was further heightened by the school management’s refusal to release an official statement debunking or clarifying the letter of either the JAC or the Students Union.

However, much to students disappointment, on Sunday, December 8th, 2024, a letter released by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Lagos State University Branch titled: “ASUU LASU EMBARKS ON A TOTAL AND INDEFINITE STRIKE ACTION.”

This letter confirmed students’ fears and categorically urged students to ignore the information passed by the LASUSU PRO on Saturday while appealing for understanding and good behaviour among the students in the midst of the challenges.

This was a disappointment for many staylites who have been proud of LASU for not embarking on strike actions for many years like other universities, with many perplexed about when LASU joined ASUU again. For the freshers, it was a matter of “I thought LASU doesn’t embark on strike actions.”

Amid the brouhaha, the best state university decided to speak for the first time. In a letter dated Sunday, December 8th, 2024, the management of the Lagos State University headline reads: “LASU ISSUES A NOTICE OF CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR BREAK.”

The Christmas break issued by LASU is presumably a crisis management to cover up for the strike action embarked upon by the staff of the university. This decision finally made the students realize that, indeed, all was not well with the management.

LASU Conscience wants to use this medium to appeal to all students to ensure that they stay glued to their books during this holiday because,with this development we are forseeing a possible swift session once again

To the freshers, prepare your mind and stay strapped in for more drama. Stay in touch with us to get notified of them.

Welcome to LASU!