/ 5 October 2001

TEACHERS IN LAGOS UNIVERSITY LAUNCH STRIKE

TEACHERS at the Lagos State University have launched strike action to press for higher pay and better conditions. The strike began on Tuesday and “is total and indefinite”, said the chairman of the ASUU teachers’ union, Gbola Aderibigbe. The union leader accused the Lagos State government of not paying outstanding salaries and allowances, and of paying wages below the country’s going rate. A junior teacher in the university earns about 45 000 naira ($407) a month, 15 000 naira less than his counterpart in other universities, he said. A representative from the Lagos State ministry of education said the government was looking into the complaints of the striking teachers. The university, established 17 years ago, has a student population of more than 30 000. – AFP