University lecturers in Nigeria are once again on a collision course with the Federal Government over issues of welfare, particularly the demand for an upward review of their salary structure.
Currently, three major academic unions exist within the nation’s university system — the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), and the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN). Despite their different affiliations, they share one common stance: lecturers’ salaries are grossly inadequate and no longer reflect the realities of the country’s economy.
Imo State Raises the Bar
Last week, Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, announced a new minimum wage of ₦104,000 for the least paid state employee. Lecturers in state-owned universities are also beneficiaries of this increase.
With the revised structure, Imo State university professors now earn around ₦812,000 monthly, which surpasses the ₦633,333 earned by their counterparts in federal universities. This makes Imo lecturers among the highest paid in the country.
The Lawmakers’ Contrast
However, public outrage continues to grow over the huge disparity between academic salaries and the take-home pay of elected political office holders. While the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) officially puts senators’ pay at about ₦1 million monthly, several claims suggest that lawmakers actually receive as much as ₦21 million monthly, when allowances and other benefits are included.
A former senator disclosed that during his tenure, he personally received ₦13.5 million monthly, confirming that the official figures released to the public do not reflect the reality. According to him, legislators owe Nigerians transparency since their salaries come from taxpayers’ money.
Meanwhile, there are ongoing moves to further increase the salaries of public office holders, including senators, which has fueled frustration among university workers who have endured stagnant pay for years.
Other States Follow Suit
In addition to Imo, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, recently raised the state minimum wage to ₦90,000, above the national minimum of ₦70,000. This has further highlighted the disparities in salary structures across the country and intensified debates about fair compensation for lecturers.
Nigerians React to Professors’ Pay
The revelation of professors’ salaries has sparked widespread public reaction. Many Nigerians expressed shock at how poorly paid university lecturers are compared to political leaders.
The Founder of Concerned Parents and Educators Network, Mrs. Yinka Ogunde, admitted she was unaware that a Nigerian professor earns less than ₦600,000 monthly — an amount lower than what many local government councillors earn. She called for a national rethink of how education and educators are valued.
One commentator pointed out that while it takes at least a decade of rigorous academic pursuit to become a professor — involving years of research, publications, and teaching — a Nigerian senator only requires a minimum of a secondary school certificate (WAEC/NECO) to qualify for office, yet earns significantly more.
Link Between School Fees and Salaries
Some education analysts argue that lecturers’ salaries cannot be divorced from the fees students pay. In Nigeria, average university fees remain low at around ₦75,000 per session, making it difficult to sustain higher wage structures.
In contrast, in the United Kingdom, professors earn an average of £80,000 per year while students pay about £9,500 annually. Training a medical doctor costs around £125,000, usually financed through student loans. Analysts believe Nigeria must restructure university funding if academics are to earn globally competitive wages.
Unions Speak Out
The National President of CONUA, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, lamented that lecturers’ salaries have remained stagnant since 2009, despite several failed attempts at review. He argued that what government has offered over the years amounts to “tokenism” in the face of rising inflation and economic hardship.
Sunmonu also stressed that any negotiations that exclude CONUA would be invalid, citing international labor conventions that Nigeria has ratified, which demand collective bargaining involving all recognized unions.
On its part, ASUU has also rejected the government’s recent offer of loan facilities for lecturers, describing it as unnecessary. The Chairman of ASUU’s UNILAG branch, Prof. Idou Keinde, insisted that what lecturers need is a living wage and prompt payment of allowances, not loans. According to him, if the government fulfilled its obligations, lecturers would not be forced into debt.
Longstanding Demands
For years, lecturers under ASUU have been pressing for the implementation of the 2009 agreement signed with the Federal Government during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Among their key demands are:
Adequate funding of universities and provision of facilities for teaching and research.
Payment of a living wage.
Payment of Earned Academic Allowances.
Release of ₦200 billion annually as revitalization funds for universities.
End to the proliferation of universities by governments without proper funding.
Although Jonathan released ₦200 billion once as part of the revitalization effort, subsequent administrations have failed to fully implement the agreement. ASUU has now threatened to embark on strike action again if the government fails to honor the deal.
