The Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Lagos State University (LASU) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUTECH) were all shutdown as administrative workers commenced a mass strike in the first week of the year, as Socialist Worker went to press.
The workers are members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU). They embarked on the indefinite strike action after several periods of negotiation, during which the Lagos state government and management of their institutions refused to give consideration to their legitimate demands, several of which are longstanding.
And, they did not just down tools. In each of the institutions, the workers locked the school gates and organised mass protests in front of the school to draw public attention to their struggle.
Their demands include payment of 72 months arrears of hazard allowance and transport allowance, both of which workers in LASUED were not paid between January 2013 and December 2018.
The union is also calling for a 25%-35% increase in salaries, in light of “escalating cost of living” as pointed out by Comrade Badmus Adesola, the LASUED NASU branch Chair. And he added that “our financial demands are not trivial; they are critical for our survival”.
It should be noted that the government has carried out such increases for a broad array of workers in the Lagos public service and claims to have carried it out for all workers.
But, despite the fact that this agreement was agreed upon already between the state government and the unions, it is yet to be implemented. The union had tarried before now, expecting the government to honour its commitment by the first week of January.
The situation goes to show that we must fight to win. Government and employers in the private sector are never too keen about our getting a living wage or better working conditions.
SWL salutes the workers in LASUED and all other tertiary educational institutions in Lagos and stands with you all in solidarity. March on till you win!
by Muda OGIDAN
