By Milcah Tanimu
Public university lecturers in Nigeria have remained on the same salary schedule since 2009, a period when the naira-dollar exchange rate was N120, according to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Speaking at a press conference in Abraka, Delta State, Professor Monday Igbafe, the Benin zonal president of ASUU, highlighted the unresolved issue surrounding the FGN/ASUU Re-negotiation Agreement of 2009, which has been in draft form since 2021.
Igbafe expressed concern over the stagnation of salaries for lecturers, stating that the current remuneration is significantly undervalued, with a professor earning approximately $400 per month in today’s Nigeria.
He emphasized that the key demand from ASUU is the conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement. Igbafe noted the prolonged delay in finalizing this agreement, which commenced in 2017 and reached a draft stage in 2021 under the Professor Briggs-led Committee.
However, the draft agreement has yet to be approved by the government, with the former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, allegedly playing a role in obstructing its approval.
Igbafe stressed the importance of concluding and implementing the renegotiated agreement to address the deteriorating living and working conditions of university staff, as well as the funding challenges and governance issues facing public universities in Nigeria.
He called on the government, under the leadership of President Tinubu, to prioritize the review and signing of the renegotiated draft agreement to demonstrate seriousness and provide hope for Nigerian academics and public universities.
Warning against further delays, Igbafe asserted that any procrastination on this matter would invite crisis within the academic sector.
Furthermore, Igbafe criticized the recurring trend of illegal dissolution of governing councils in public universities, highlighting the negative impact on university governance and policies. He cited Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, as an example of a state university where the absence of a governing council for three years has led to disruptions in university operations and governance.
