Rhodes-Vivour, popularly known as GRV, said the shutdown of the state’s four government-owned universities was avoidable and warned that the continued disruption of academic and administrative activities could have consequences for students, workers and the wider education system.
The Joint Action Committee of unions representing workers in the institutions commenced the indefinite industrial action after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Lagos State Government.
The affected institutions are Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), and Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM).
The unions involved in the dispute are the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions (NASU), and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
The unions have cited the non-implementation of agreements reached with the state government, as well as outstanding salary arrears which they said had accumulated to nine months, covering January to September 2026. They are also demanding implementation of agreed allowances, including a 15 per cent “Lagos Factor” intended to cushion the impact of the high cost of living in the state.
The dispute followed a series of engagements between the unions and the state government over the implementation of agreements arising from the 2026 negotiations between the Federal Government and university-based staff unions.
According to the Joint Action Committee, previous attempts to resolve the dispute through dialogue failed to produce the implementation it expected, prompting the unions to issue successive ultimatums before eventually declaring the indefinite strike.
Reacting to the development in a statement posted on his official X account on Sunday, Rhodes-Vivour criticised the government over the prolonged dispute and called for immediate steps to resolve the matter.
“Since 2 October 2026, all four Lagos State-owned universities: LASU, LASUED, LASUSTECH and LASUCOM have been shut by an indefinite strike. This was avoidable and unacceptable,” GRV lamented.
“University workers deserve a pay rise and a government that honours its commitments to them. A government that allows its universities to shut down indefinitely is not only failing its workers, it is gambling with the future of our children.
“Nine months of unpaid arrears, from January to September 2026, Implementation of the agreed salary structure and a 15 per cent “Lagos Factor” to reflect the extraordinary cost of living in Lagos, are not unreasonable demands in an economy that has pauperized working people.”
Rhodes-Vivour also linked the dispute to what he described as the state’s revenue position, arguing that Lagos should be able to meet its obligations to workers.
“Lagos is now the biggest recipient of federal allocations among Nigeria’s states. It’s internally generated revenue is unquestionably the highest, but yet it lacks empathy towards its workers.”
The former 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate further drew attention to commitments he said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made in 2023 concerning university workers.
“Recall that in 2023, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu pledged a 20 percent salary increase for university workers and five Marcopolo buses to improve transportation for students and staff.
“Three years later, workers are still waiting. A government that cannot fulfil a commitment to provide five buses for its own universities must explain why Lagosians should continue to trust its promises.”
The unions have similarly listed the 20 per cent salary increase and the provision of five Marcopolo buses among outstanding commitments they want the government to address.
Rhodes-Vivour subsequently called on the Lagos State Government to settle the outstanding payments and implement the disputed agreements in full.
“I therefore call on the Lagos State Government to immediately pay the nine months of arrears owed to university workers, covering January to September 2026,” GRV said.
“Additionally, the government must Implement the agreed salary structure and the 15 per cent Lagos Factor in full.
“It should also honour the 2023 commitment to provide five Marcopolo buses for our universities.
“I call on Governor Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Hamzat, to meet with the unions this week and bring this strike to an immediate end.”
The Joint Action Committee had earlier said the strike followed the failure of the state government to implement the agreements reached with the unions, despite previous engagements and ultimatums. The unions maintained that their demands included payment of the accumulated arrears, implementation of agreed salary and allowance structures, compliance with the non-taxable status of applicable allowances, and the 15 per cent Lagos Factor.
The industrial action has raised concerns over the impact of the dispute on academic activities across the four institutions, particularly as the unions have indicated that the strike will continue until their demands are addressed.
GRV maintained that the state government has the financial capacity to resolve the dispute, arguing that the more significant concern was the effect of the prolonged industrial action on students and the future of education in Lagos.
According to him, “Lagos can afford to pay its university workers but what the state cannot afford is a government that chooses its comfort over the future of the children.”