The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Modibbo Adama University (MAU), Yola, has raised a poignant outcry over what it deems as the abysmally low salaries paid to Nigerian university professors, asserting that they are among the lowest in the world. Speaking at a press briefing in Yola, El-Maude Gambo Jibreel, the branch leader, underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, “Our members have endured stagnant salaries for over 15 years; the last review was in 2009.”
Jibreel further highlighted the stark disparity, lamenting, “Lecturers in Nigeria receive the lowest compensation in Africa, and globally, our pay scale is the worst. A professor earns less than $300 per month, based on the current exchange rate of N1,489 per dollar.”
The union leader expressed frustration over the widespread misunderstanding of their repeated strikes, emphasizing, “It’s crucial for the public to grasp the essence of ASUU’s struggle and unite with us to salvage Nigeria’s educational sector and set the nation on a sustainable developmental trajectory.”
Explaining the rationale behind ASUU’s prolonged strikes, Jibreel clarified, “The 2022 strike action spanning eight months was aimed at compelling the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to fulfill the terms of the Memorandum of Action (MoA) signed on February 7, 2019, which both our Union and the government agreed upon voluntarily.”
He reiterated that ASUU’s demands revolve around the implementation of agreements dating back to 2017, stressing, “We are not asking for anything new but the fulfillment of commitments made in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022.”
Jibreel also criticized the inadequate disbursement of government budget allocations to universities, noting, “The funds earmarked for education are woefully insufficient, and even the allocated amounts are only partially released to universities.” Referring to the latest budgetary provisions, he pointed out, “Despite N170 billion designated for revitalization funds in the last budget, these funds have yet to materialize at our universities. The deteriorating state of infrastructure in Nigerian public universities is beyond dire.”
Appealing to all stakeholders invested in national progress, Jibreel called for concerted efforts to restore the country’s educational eminence, stating emphatically, “Our union is deeply committed to revitalizing the Nigerian university system. We implore all well-meaning Nigerians, the media, labor organizations, student bodies, and civil society to collaborate with ASUU in securing the future of our nation.”
In conclusion, ASUU’s plight at MAU, Yola, echoes the broader challenges faced by academics across Nigeria, where the struggle for fair wages, infrastructural renewal, and educational reform continues unabated. As the union persists in its advocacy, the hope remains that collective action will usher in substantive changes and uphold the pivotal role of education in national development.
