The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) highlighted the severe understaffing crisis affecting various departments and units across Nigeria’s public universities. The union expressed alarm on Tuesday, citing the ongoing trend of lecturers resigning in pursuit of better opportunities.
Prof. Ayo Akinwole, Chairman of the University of Ibadan Chapter of ASUU, shared these observations in Ibadan, Oyo State, emphasizing the distressing conditions prevalent in Nigeria’s public universities. He underscored the visible stress and frustration faced by lecturers who contend with meager remuneration.
Akinwole pointed out that without intervention, the situation could escalate, with more talented educators opting to leave the country. He called on President Bola Tinubu to address the issue urgently by reviewing the conditions of service, including salaries, allowances, and infrastructure.
The ASUU chairman criticized the irony of the government proposing the establishment of 32 more universities while simultaneously neglecting the funding of existing educational institutions.
He argued that creating additional universities might not resolve the problem and instead advocated for improving the capacity of current institutions to admit more students.
Among the factors contributing to the wave of resignations, Akinwole highlighted poor and delayed salaries, unpaid allowances, inadequate infrastructure, a lack of respect for the academic community, and diminishing prospects. He cautioned that unless the government took deliberate steps to enhance conditions of service, retaining the best talent would become increasingly challenging.
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Akinwole also addressed the bureaucratic challenges in the hiring process, noting that Vice Chancellors faced hurdles in securing prompt approval from Abuja for recruitment. This delay, he explained, allowed universities abroad to poach quality educators who sought environments that valued their expertise.
The chairman concluded by expressing concern about external interference in universities’ hiring decisions, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and sustainable solution to address the ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s higher education sector. #ASUU