The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the recent proposal from the federal government to increase salaries of academic staff by 35%.
According to ASUU leaders, this increment is insufficient and reflects a broader issue of chronic underfunding in the Nigerian education sector.
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In a press briefing held on Tuesday at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), the Lagos Zonal Coordinator for ASUU, Prof. Adesola Nassir, described the government’s offer as “wretched,” indicating that it would leave Nigerian academics among the lowest-paid in Africa.
He explained that despite the proposed raise, the actual salaries for university staff remain inadequate to sustain a standard of living commensurate with their professional responsibilities.
“The recent offer of a 35% increase in salaries is not only unscientific but will still result in Nigeria’s academics being poorly compensated compared to their counterparts in other countries,” Nassir stated.
He emphasised that a salary increase must be substantial enough to counteract the effects of years of neglect and economic challenges faced by educators.
Nassir pointed out that when the 2009 agreement was signed, a professor earned approximately $3,000 monthly.
“Today, that figure has plummeted to roughly $400, making any incremental increase almost negligible. Even with this 35% increase, the salary of a professor will not reach even a million naira, and after taxes, it drops further to around 700,000 naira,” he noted.
This pitiful remuneration, he argued, inevitably leads to brain drain and a decline in the quality of education.
Compounding the issue, ASUU highlighted the alarming stagnation of Nigeria’s education funding.
Nassir lamented that government’s investment in education has consistently been below 10% over the past decade, with current allocations sinking below 1% of the country’s GDP.
“In stark contrast, countries like Egypt and South Africa allocate significantly more, with percentages reaching 2% and 6% respectively.
“The funding crisis in education is not new, but it has reached a critical level. The government must confront the perilous consequences of its neglect and prioritise the future of our children,” Nassir urged.
He called on all Nigerians who care about the nation’s future to join ASUU in advocating for a substantial increase in educational spending.
As negotiations between ASUU and the federal government continue, the union has signalled that without meaningful commitments to resolve these pressing issues, it may resort to indefinite strike action.
“If the federal government does not adhere to the agreements made in 2009, a miracle will be needed to avoid a complete shutdown of public universities across the country,” Nassir warned, highlighting the urgency for action to improve the education sector in Nigeria.
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