The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared that Nigerian university lecturers, including professors, are among the lowest paid worldwide.
This revelation, shared by ASUU President Professor Emmanuel Osodeke in an interview with Sunday Tribune, highlights a critical issue in the realm of Nigerian higher education and its implications for national development.
Professor Osodeke lamented the stagnant salaries of Nigerian lecturers, which have remained unchanged since 2009, apart from a meager N40,000 adjustment linked to the previous minimum wage.
He stated, “I don’t know of any country in Africa, be it South, North, Central and even West, where university lecturers earn as low as Nigerian counterparts.”
In a comparative analysis, Osodeke pointed out that lecturers in some African countries earn no less than $2,000 (N3.3 million) monthly, while professors can earn up to $10,000 (N16.5 million).
In sharp contrast, a Nigerian professor earns a paltry $300 (N495,000) per month. The disparity, he noted, is a significant factor in the absence of foreign lecturers in Nigerian universities and contributes to the country’s low global ranking in higher education.
Professor Osodeke further criticized the government, highlighting that political aides earn significantly more than professors.
“A special assistant to the Speaker of the House, for example, earns more than N1 million ($606) per month, which is more than double of the salaries of the highest-paid professor in the country,” he said, expressing frustration over the government’s apparent disregard for the plight of academic staff.
He also cited the confession of a Nigerian senator who claimed to earn up to N14 million monthly, a figure equivalent to three years’ salary for a top-tier professor.
This juxtaposition, Osodeke argued, paints a clear picture of misplaced governmental priorities and the undervaluing of academic contributions to national development.
Highlighting the poor working conditions in Nigeria compared to countries like the United States or the United Kingdom, Osodeke described how professors abroad enjoy amenities such as personal aides and equipped laboratories. Meanwhile, Nigerian lecturers grapple with overcrowded classrooms and inadequate facilities, with one lecturer often teaching up to 2,000 students.
These disparities, Osodeke warned, lead to a brain drain, as many Nigerian scholars trained abroad choose not to return, further depriving the nation of skilled educators and researchers. He emphasized that the minimum salary for a lecturer in Nigeria is a mere N120,000 ($73) monthly, while professors earn up to half a million naira.
Calling for collective action, Osodeke urged individuals and groups committed to national progress to support ASUU’s fight for improved conditions in public education, asserting that such efforts are crucial for Nigeria’s future advancement.
