A senior lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Balarabe Abdullahi, has raised concerns over the deteriorating welfare of university lecturers in Nigeria, stating that many are unable to meet their basic needs due to poor remuneration.
Speaking in an interview with Radio France International (RFI) Hausa, monitored by The News Chronicle on Tuesday morning, Professor Abdullahi revealed that he cannot afford to enroll his children in schools in Abuja due to the high cost of living.
He described the current situation as dire, recounting that some professors have approached him in tears, lamenting that they have gone days without food in their homes.
“That’s why many lecturers are forced to take jobs in other institutions. The salary the government pays is simply not enough,” he said. “If I told you how much I earn, you’d probably laugh. That’s why many lecturers are leaving the country. I was offered a teaching job in South Korea, but unfortunately, I couldn’t take it.”
He noted that this trend is especially common in Southern Nigeria, where lecturers are increasingly migrating abroad in search of better opportunities.
“They are going to places where their value is recognized,” he added. “I remember during President Buhari’s administration, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar broke down in tears on national television, saying more than 56 of her academic staff, including doctors and professors, had left the country.”
Professor Abdullahi lamented that in Nigeria, the value of academic professionals is not respected. “A personal assistant to a politician earns far more than a professor,” he said. “You can’t turn a retired Army General into a professor and then treat professional academics like they don’t matter.”
He also highlighted the toll of prolonged industrial actions, saying, “During the nationwide ASUU strikes, many lecturers died due to unpaid salaries and neglect.”
According to him, ABU Zaria has a rigorous appointment process for lecturers, thoroughly vetting their academic records before employment. Yet, the compensation does not reflect this level of diligence.
“A lecturer at a Federal Government College earns over N250,000 more than I do,” he claimed. “Many lecturers are still doing their jobs out of necessity, not because they feel appreciated.”
He further stated that some individuals prefer working at local government offices rather than becoming university lecturers due to the poor pay and conditions.
Professor Abdullahi also condemned the Federal Government for failing to implement the 2009 agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which was intended to improve the welfare and working conditions of university lecturers.
The News Chronicle has gathered that this growing frustration among lecturers is one of the main reasons ASUU has been calling for renewed nationwide strikes.
