The Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has formally rejected the Federal Government’s proposed salary increase, describing the offer as a “drop in the ocean” that fails to address the economic realities facing Nigerian scholars.
The Union warned that the proposal is insufficient to reverse the massive brain drain currently crippling the nation’s university system.
Professor Monday Igbafen, the Zonal Coordinator, criticized the government for displaying a “blatant unwillingness” to resolve the lingering crisis. He urged the authorities to urgently conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement and address other outstanding demands to avert further industrial action.
15 Years of Stagnation
Professor Igbafen highlighted the grim financial reality for lecturers, noting that university salaries have remained largely static since 2009. He pointed out that when the current salary structure was agreed upon, the exchange rate was N120 to a dollar.
“It is sad to note that what a professor earns in today’s Nigeria is less than $400 per month, which is a scandalous under-valuation of Nigerian scholars,” Igbafen stated.
He added, “To continue to remain on the same salary regime for more than 15 years without a meaningful review is not only wicked and inhuman but also a catalyst for resistance, industrial disharmony, and brain drain.”
Core Demands and Broken Promises
The Union had previously embarked on a two-week warning strike to press home its demands. While the strike was suspended following government assurances, ASUU argues that the resulting proposals have been underwhelming.
The Union’s key demands include:
- Full implementation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement.
- Payment of outstanding promotion arrears dating back to 2017.
- Release of third-party deductions.
- Disbursement of the N50bn revitalization fund allocated to universities.
Igbafen accused government officials, including the Minister of Education, of employing “subtle misrepresentations” during negotiations. He argued that the government often presents the partial payment of arrears as a major achievement, rather than addressing the substantial structural issues.
“We are saying enough is enough to the back-and-forth approach of the Federal Government to the negotiation. This half-hearted approach must stop now,” he declared.
Economic Justification
Addressing the government’s frequent claim of “paucity of funds,” ASUU dismissed this excuse as untenable given the country’s improved revenue profile.
The Zonal Coordinator cited recent economic data, noting that government revenues have seen significant growth.
“The figure for 2024 was N5.81tn, showing a staggering increase of over 62 percent,” Igbafen explained. “Similarly, our union is aware that the Federal Government received N4.65tn in 2024, representing a humongous increase of over 70 percent.”
A Looming Crisis
The Union has urged the Federal Government to utilize the remaining one-month negotiation window to resolve these issues definitively. ASUU warned that the continued spread of “half-truths” by government negotiators portends an inevitable crisis that could paralyze the university system once again.
“Our government should accept the immutable reality that nothing is too much to invest in the education of its citizenry because it is the bedrock of any society that desires development,” Igbafen concluded.
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