The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sounded a stern warning that a nationwide strike could be imminent if the Federal Government does not address the longstanding stagnation of university lecturers’ salaries.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, November 18, the Benin Zone of ASUU highlighted what it described as the 15-year freeze on lecturers’ wages, emphasizing the urgent need for action.
Government Inaction Frustrates Lecturers
Prof. Monday Igbafen, Zonal Coordinator, condemned the government’s handling of the salary review, describing it as a “blatant unwillingness” to resolve issues critical to the stability of public universities.
Addressing journalists alongside regional university leaders, he stressed that while some non-monetary aspects of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement had been addressed, the salary and welfare components remain largely neglected.
“The Federal Government has yet again failed to utilize the one-month window given to conclude negotiations, leaving lecturers trapped in the same 2009 salary structure,” Igbafen said. “The proposed increment is merely a drop in the ocean and does not address the urgent realities faced by our academics.”
Professors Earning Less Than $400 Monthly
Highlighting the stark reality, Igbafen noted that a Nigerian professor today earns less than $400 per month—a figure he called “a scandalous undervaluation of scholars” that fuels brain drain and industrial unrest. He described the 15-year salary freeze as “inhuman, unjust, and a direct threat to the public university system.”
He further criticized key government officials, including the Minister of Education, for their positions on the issue, describing them as “antithetical to a genuine and swift resolution.”
Resources Are Available, But Political Will Is Lacking
Citing official revenue figures, the ASUU zonal coordinator dismissed claims that the strike is due to a lack of funds. According to Igbafen, state governments received ₦3.92 trillion in 2022, increasing to ₦5.81 trillion in 2024—a rise of over 62%. Similarly, federal revenues grew from ₦3.42 trillion in 2022 to ₦4.65 trillion in 2024, marking an increase of more than 70%.
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“This crisis is not a question of resources,” he said. “It is a question of political will.”
Benin Zone Ready for National Directive
Igbafen confirmed that the Benin Zone of ASUU is fully prepared to comply with any decision from the union’s National Executive Council regarding the resumption of the suspended strike.
“We are ready to act on the NEC’s directive to resume strike action if the government fails to meet its obligations within the one-month window,” he concluded.
