Nigeria ASUU: Nigeria's Lecturers Among the Lowest Paid Worldwide

Nigerian lecturers, including professors, are reported to be the lowest-paid globally, earning approximately $300 per month. ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke highlighted the disparity between their salaries and those of other government officials, urging for better compensation to enhance the quality of education and attract foreign faculty.

Nigerian university lecturers, including professors, face dire financial conditions, according to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). In a recent interview, ASUU President Professor Emmanuel Osodeke highlighted that Nigerian lecturers are the lowest paid globally. While many African university lecturers earn upwards of $2,000 monthly, Nigerian professors earn a mere $300, equivalent to approximately N495,000.

Osodeke pointed out a stark disparity in earnings, revealing that a special assistant to the Speaker of the House earns more than double the salary of the highest-paid professor. He lamented that since 2009, the salaries of university lecturers have remained largely unchanged, with only a N40,000 increase linked to a past minimum wage adjustment.

He emphasized the negative impact of these low wages on the quality of education, noting that Nigerian universities struggle to attract foreign faculty, leading to low global rankings. Many Nigerian students who study abroad choose not to return due to the unfavorable salary conditions at home. Osodeke's salary is just N420,000 per month, a stark contrast to the more than N14 million monthly salary of some Nigerian senators.

The ASUU president called for increased awareness and support from the public and advocacy groups to improve the salaries and working conditions for Nigerian lecturers, crucial for the nation's educational development.