The management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has distanced itself from the nationwide strike action called by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), declaring that the ongoing industrial action is "illegal" and will not disrupt the institution's academic calendar.
In a statement released earlier today, the university’s management acknowledged the receipt of the strike directive from the national body of ASUU. However, it noted that the UNILAG chapter of the union has not officially notified the university of its compliance with the strike. Consequently, the university maintains that academic activities remain in full force.
"The attention of the University of Lagos Management has been drawn to the declaration of a nationwide strike by the national leadership of ASUU. We wish to state unequivocally that the University of Lagos is a law-abiding institution, but we must operate within the confines of the law," the statement read.
"The university has not received any official communication from the UNILAG branch of ASUU regarding the suspension of lectures. In the absence of such notification, and given that we have not been properly served, the university considers the purported strike action as illegal and not binding on our students."
The management insisted that the ongoing first-semester examinations will proceed as scheduled. It urged students to remain calm and focus on their examinations, assuring them that adequate security measures are in place to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment for learning and assessment.
"All examinations scheduled for today and subsequent days will hold as planned. Students are advised to disregard any information suggesting a disruption of the academic calendar and to continue with their examination preparations," the statement added.
This development places UNILAG at odds with the national ASUU directive, potentially creating tension between the university administration, its academic staff, and the national union.
The institution has called on parents and guardians to advise their wards to remain law-abiding and continue with their academic pursuits.