Students Trooping To Lagos Varsities Because We Didn’t Join ASUU Strike
During a period when the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on an extended industrial action that affected academic activities in many federal and state universities across Nigeria, Lagos State universities including Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUST), and Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) — were not on strike. As a result, these institutions continued academic activities while many others were shut down due to the nationwide ASUU strike.
Why Students Were Choosing Lagos Universities
According to statements by Tokunbo Wahab, Special Adviser on Education to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the oversubscription of Lagos state universities was largely because:
- Lagos state varsities continued academic activities while many other universities were closed due to ASUU industrial action.
- Students seeking to avoid disruption to their studies were therefore choosing to apply to or transfer to these institutions.
- Wahab explained that the absence of strike in these state universities led to a surge in applications and interest for admission at LASU and its sister institutions.
What This Highlights
This development illustrates a wider consequence of prolonged university strikes in Nigeria — namely that students may look for alternatives in institutions that remain open, including state universities or private universities that are not affected by ASUU industrial actions.
- State Universities vs. Federal Strike: While ASUU’s actions typically target federal universities, some state-owned or private institutions choose not to participate in the industrial action, allowing them to continue teaching and learning uninterrupted.
- Student Academic Progress: For many students whose learning calendars in federal universities were stalled, this situation presented an opportunity to pursue admissions or transfer to Lagos state institutions to avoid stagnation in their education.
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Context on ASUU Strike Impact
Nationwide, ASUU strike actions have historically halted academic activities in many federal institutions, leaving students at home for extended periods, disrupting academic calendars, and delaying graduations.
This has at times led affected students to explore alternative institutions or transfer options where teaching continues particularly in universities that either do not participate in the national strike or have separate staff union affiliations.
