Don Urges Review of Lecturers’ Salaries to Prevent Strike
- Local News
- 27.08.2025
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- 29
Don Urges Review of Lecturers’ Salaries to Prevent Strike
Prof. Adeoye lamented that despite the pivotal role lecturers play in nation-building, their salaries and benefits remain grossly inadequate compared to the rising cost of living in the country. He noted that the continued neglect of academic staff remuneration was not only demoralizing but also undermining the quality of education in Nigerian universities.According to him, the last major salary review for university lecturers was conducted more than a decade ago, and since then inflation, economic downturn, and currency devaluation have significantly eroded the value of their earnings.
Highlighting the longstanding history of disputes between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government, Prof. Adeoye stressed that if urgent steps were not taken to improve working conditions, Nigeria could once again witness prolonged strikes that would disrupt academic calendars and negatively impact students’ future.
“The only way to prevent another nationwide strike is for government to engage lecturers meaningfully and prioritize a comprehensive salary review that reflects today’s economic realities,” he stated.
He further explained that poor remuneration has led to a massive brain drain, with many qualified lecturers seeking better opportunities abroad. This, according to him, weakens the nation’s educational system and deprives students of quality mentorship and knowledge transfer.
The don also argued that the welfare of lecturers directly impacts productivity and research output, which are crucial for innovation and economic development.
Prof. Adeoye urged the Federal Government to adopt a holistic approach in addressing issues affecting higher institutions, including funding, infrastructural development, and the autonomy of universities. He emphasized that without adequate investment in education, Nigeria would continue to lag behind in human capital development and global competitiveness.
“Education is the backbone of every economy, and lecturers are at the heart of that system. If we fail to take care of them, the entire nation suffers,” he warned.
Stakeholders in the education sector, including students, parents, and civil society groups, have echoed similar sentiments, stressing that timely intervention is necessary to avoid another disruption to the academic calendar. Many believe that the government must not wait until ASUU declares an industrial action before responding to the demands of lecturers.
With increasing agitation within the academic community, the Federal Government faces mounting pressure to act swiftly in reviewing lecturers’ salaries and welfare conditions. As Prof. Adeoye noted, meaningful reforms will not only prevent strikes but also rejuvenate the nation’s educational sector, secure the future of millions of students, and strengthen Nigeria’s overall socio-economic development.
