Lagos State Delays Salary Increase for University Lecturers

Following President Bola Tinubu's assumption of office on May 29, 2023, the federal government initiated a reform program, including an education reform aimed at stabilizing the university system. A key element of this reform was a 40% salary increase for university academic staff, effective January 1, 2026, as part of a labor agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

While several states, including Abia, Ekiti, Osun, and Enugu, have begun implementing this agreement, Lagos State has not. Governor Sanwo-Olu's silence on the matter and his comments during the Lagos State University Convocation in August suggest a reluctance to adopt the new salary structure.

This inaction is viewed as a potential sabotage of Tinubu's education reform agenda, particularly as other financially constrained states have managed to comply. The situation raises concerns about Lagos State's governance and commitment to higher education.