Poor Welfare Driving Young Nigerians Away from Lecturing, ASUU Warns
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed concern over poor working conditions in public universities, which it says discourage young academics from pursuing careers in teaching within the university system.
In a New Year message, the University of Ibadan (UI) ASUU chapter chairman, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, highlighted the issue, attributing the decline in qualified lecturers and teachers to inadequate remuneration and welfare packages.
He said the situation extends beyond universities to public primary and secondary schools, where poorly paid teachers have deterred skilled educators from taking up roles.
“The teachers are not well-paid, leading to the reluctance of qualified teachers to take up employment in public primary and secondary schools, paving the way for the untrained and unqualified teachers [to] hold sway,” Akinwole said.
Akinwole pointed out that the neglect of public education has led to an increase in private schools, many of which remain unaffordable for the average Nigerian due to exorbitant fees.
Reflecting on 2024, Akinwole described the year as one of stagnation for Nigeria’s university system, crediting the sacrifices of lecturers for averting another industrial crisis. He warned that with education receiving just 7% of the 2025 national budget—N3.52 trillion out of N47.90 trillion—the sector remains underfunded and far below UNESCO’s recommendation of allocating 15–20% of the budget to education in developing countries.
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The ASUU leader lauded the Federal Government for initiating a committee to renegotiate the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement but cautioned against delays, citing past instances of inaction.
“To be sure, since 2017, various committees had been put in place by the government to renegotiate the agreement with ASUU,” he said, listing previous efforts led by Babalakin, Emeritus Professor Munzali Jubril, and the late Prof. Nimi Briggs.
Akinwole urged the current administration to fast-track the review and signing of the Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated draft agreement as a gesture of goodwill and a commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s public universities.
