The Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has criticized the lack of salary reviews for its members, highlighting that the last review took place 15 years ago.
Speaking at a press conference in Benin on Wednesday, June 19, Prof. Monday Igbafen, the coordinator of the Benin Zone of ASUU, expressed frustration over the stagnant salaries of university lecturers, noting that other workers’ salaries have been reviewed multiple times since then.
“University teachers in Nigeria have been on the same salary regime since 2009 when the value of the naira to a dollar was N120,” Igbafen said. “Meanwhile, salaries in other sectors have been reviewed twice or more.
It is alarming that what a professor earns in today’s Nigeria is about $400 per month, which is a scandalous undervaluation of scholars.”
Igbafen described the 15-year salary freeze as “wicked and inhuman,” warning that it invites resistance and industrial disharmony.
He outlined the union’s demands, which he said the Federal Government has refused to meet, pushing ASUU to the brink of industrial action.
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“Having been irked by the obvious lack of sincerity on the part of federal and state governments to address the issues that have worsened the living and working conditions of academic staff in public universities, it is sad to note that barely a month after we engaged with the press at DELSU, the government continues to neglect our union’s demands and ultimatum,” Igbafen stated.
He emphasized that the government’s inaction is a recipe for an impending paralysis in Nigeria’s public universities.
The core issues between the government and ASUU revolve around the failure to implement the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement satisfactorily.
“The issues include the stalled renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, funding for the revitalization of public universities based on the FGN-ASUU MoU of 2021, 2013, and the MoA of 2017, the illegal dissolution of governing councils in federal and state universities, withheld salaries, unpaid salaries of staff on sabbatical and adjunct duties due to IPPIS, the non-release of third-party deductions, non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), the proliferation of public universities, non-implementation of the reports of Visitation Panels, and the refusal to adopt UTAS in place of IPPIS,” he listed.
Igbafen criticized the government for its lack of response to ASUU’s calls and efforts to address these issues, stating that the government is essentially inviting the union to proceed on strike.
He also condemned the illegal dissolution of governing councils in public universities and the refusal or neglect by some state governments to constitute governing councils for their universities.
“The government’s inaction on these critical issues is not only sad but also provocative,” Igbafen concluded, signalling the union’s readiness to take further action if their demands continue to be ignored.
