The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has decried what it described as the prolonged stagnation of university lecturers’ salaries, stating that academic staff in Nigerian public universities have been on the same wage structure for the past 15 years.
Speaking at a press conference in Benin City, Edo State, the Zonal Coordinator of the ASUU Benin Zone, Prof. Monday Igbafen, said the Federal Government had failed to utilize the one-month window given to it to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement. He warned that a fresh nationwide strike may become inevitable if urgent steps are not taken.
Flanked by leaders of universities within the zone, Prof. Igbafen stated:
“It is regrettable and disappointing that the Federal Government has again shown a blatant unwillingness to holistically resolve all outstanding issues necessary to restore industrial harmony in our public universities, and in the overall interest of our students.”
He noted that although some non-monetary aspects of the agreement had witnessed minimal progress, the critical components—salary and conditions of service—remain unresolved.
According to him, ASUU rejected the government’s proposed salary increment because it is “a mere drop in the ocean”and incapable of addressing the brain drain that continues to cripple the university system.
Prof. Igbafen lamented that lecturers have remained on the 2009 salary structure, despite the drastic depreciation of the naira from N120 per dollar in 2009 to current levels, while workers in other sectors have received multiple upward reviews.
“It is disturbing that a professor in Nigeria today earns less than $400 a month. This is a scandalous undervaluation of Nigerian scholars. Keeping lecturers on the same salary for over 15 years is not only unfair and inhuman but also fuels resistance, industrial disharmony, and brain drain,” he said.
The union also accused government officials, including the Minister of Education, of making statements and taking actions that undermine genuine efforts to resolve the issues.
Citing revenue data, Igbafen stated that both federal and state governments have recorded significant increases in allocations and internally generated revenue. He noted that:
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FAAC allocations to states rose from N3.92 trillion in 2022 to N5.81 trillion in 2024, a 62% increase.
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Federal Government generated revenue increased from N3.42 trillion in 2022 to N4.65 trillion in 2024, representing over 70% growth.
“This clearly shows that the challenge is not economic but a lack of political will to conclude the renegotiation process,” he added.
He concluded that the Benin Zone of ASUU is fully prepared to comply with the national leadership’s directive to resume the suspended strike once the one-month ultimatum expires.
