Mazi Eze PhD, a seasoned lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) and Public speaking buff, took to social media to share his frustration after facing a major setback in his attempt to secure a loan.
Dr Eze, who has over a decade of experience in academia and holds a PhD, visited First Bank in Choba with the hope of borrowing N5 million to invest in his Public Speaking Academy Limited. However, his plans were thwarted when his account officer informed him that his salary of N191,000 couldn’t support such a loan.
Expressing his disappointment, Dr Eze revealed that colleagues at similar salary scales in other institutions, such as Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Bori Polytechnic, and Rivers State University, receive higher monthly pay ranging from 230k to 250k. He raised concerns about the disparity in salary scales among federal universities in Nigeria, particularly highlighting the challenges faced by UniPort lecturers.
“I have 10+ years as a lecturer in UniPort. I earned a PhD. And my take-home pay is N191,000. 😭😭😭,” Dr. Eze lamented.
Despite his dedication to education and aspirations to become a professor in the next 6 to 8 years, he expressed weariness about the prospects of a meagre monthly salary of 440k, citing the economic challenges in the country.
The post quickly gained traction on social media, with many sympathizing with Dr Eze’s plight and sharing his story. The lecturer urged his followers to share his post, sparking a conversation about the broader issue of inadequate compensation for educators in Nigeria.
As the story unfolds, questions arise about the fairness of salary scales in federal universities and the challenges faced by educators in realizing their professional and personal goals in a challenging economic environment.
Dr Eze’s struggle sheds light on the broader issue of remuneration for academic professionals, sparking a call for reforms and fair compensation across the education sector.
