ASUU Reveals How Economic Crisis, Remuneration Claim Lives of 46 Nigerian Lecturers
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has recently shared a distressing update on the state of academia in Nigeria, revealing that the country’s economic challenges and insufficient compensation for academics have led to the tragic loss of 46 lecturers within the Abuja zone.
The impacted institutions include the University of Abuja, Federal University of Technology in Minna, Federal University in Lafia, Nasarawa State University in Nasarawa, and Ibrahim Babangida University in Lapai.
Highlighting the severity of the situation, ASUU mentioned the passing of an esteemed Professor of Fisheries from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, who succumbed due to the inability to access adequate medical care.
This situation underscores the dire circumstances faced by many in the academic community, as poor remuneration and working conditions have not only led to a significant brain drain but have also put immense physical and emotional strain on those who choose to stay.
The union’s first zonal coordinator for the zone, Salahu Muhammed, pointed out the worrying trend of academics leaving Nigeria in search of better opportunities abroad. This exodus has increased the workload on the remaining faculty, further diminishing their morale and patriotism due to the unsatisfactory working environment.
ASUU has further voiced its frustration over the government’s failure to exempt Federal Universities from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) as promised in December 2023.
“The continued implementation of the IPPIS, despite the exemption announcement, reflects a lack of commitment to fulfilling the government’s promises to the academic community.
The union calls on the Federal Government to take immediate action by signing and implementing the Professor Nimi Briggs committee renegotiation agreement, implementing a salary increase of 25% and 35%, and paying the arrears from January 2023. The union’s plea highlights the urgent need for reforms to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerian academics and to restore the integrity of the country’s educational institutions.