Professors Demand N2.5M Salary as Minister Admits ASUU-FGN 2009 Deal

Some Nigerian professors are demanding a salary increase to N2.5 million per month, arguing that anything less is no longer acceptable.

This demand comes after the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, reversed his earlier stance and admitted that a 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) exists.

Earlier this week, protests erupted across various campuses as ASUU members condemned the government for failing to implement the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement.

On Tuesday, the minister had initially stated that no binding agreement existed between the government and ASUU, claiming the union was merely presenting a draft. This assertion was quickly rejected by ASUU.

Minister Acknowledges 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement

However, in a statement released on Friday by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the minister backtracked, admitting that the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement is indeed the last signed and binding document between the two parties.

The statement further explained that efforts had been made to update the agreement, including the establishment of a renegotiation committee in 2017 under the former Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu. This led to the draft Nimi Briggs Agreement in May 2021, though the Federal Government maintains that the document was never formally signed.

“When the Honourable Minister stated that there had been ‘no new signed agreement’ with ASUU, he was referring specifically to the 2021 draft Nimi Briggs document, which has not been formally executed,” the ministry clarified.

Professors Demand Salary Uplift

Lecturers have long complained about poor salaries and deteriorating conditions in the academic sector.

Currently, professors in Nigeria earn between N525,010 and N633,333 monthly, with graduate assistants earning between N125,000 and N138,020.

Some professors are now demanding a minimum salary of N2.5 million per month, insisting that their current pay is insufficient for their needs.

A professor from the University of Ibadan, Remi Aiyede, argued that Nigerian professors are underpaid compared to their counterparts in other African countries. He cited a government-commissioned report that recommended similar figures for professors.

“If you want to benchmark it across countries, you will see that the monthly pay of an average professor across Africa is between $2,000 and $4,000. So, if you break that down to naira, then you will have an idea of what we are talking about. In fact, a million naira is conservative. Professors in Nigeria should not earn less than N2.5 million monthly,” Aiyede said.

Professors Speak Out on Living Conditions

At the University of Lagos, Prof. Abigail Ndizika-Ogwezzy emphasized that the current pay was inadequate for professors to live and work effectively. She highlighted that many professors are overburdened with additional responsibilities.

“Anything less than N2.5 million for a professor at the bar is not it; look at the reality. If I want to get a house to live in this Akoka area, it’s not less than N3 million per year. Then won’t I feed, pay my children’s fees, ride a good car, and even take care of my health? When is my reward?” she said.

Similarly, Prof. Sheriffdeen Tela of Babcock University expressed support for the N2.5 million demand, criticizing the disparity between academic salaries and those of political officeholders.

“If you are saying that a professor receives not less than N1.2 million in a month, that means that in a year it’s still less than what the legislature takes home in a month,” Tela pointed out.

Former ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, also backed the demand for higher pay, stating that professors should earn between N1 million and N5 million monthly to match their global counterparts.

“If Nigeria truly values education and wants its universities to compete globally, professors must be paid what they are worth. Anything short of this will only worsen the brain drain,” Osodeke warned.

FG Committed to Ending ASUU Stalemate

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry assured the public that the government remains committed to resolving the 16-year-old impasse with ASUU, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The ministry urged the public to disregard any misinterpretations of the minister’s earlier comments and emphasized that ensuring universities remain open for teaching and research is a priority.