The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised concerns regarding the shortage of staff in Nigeria’s public universities.
The Chairman of the University of Ibadan Chapter of ASUU, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, recently spoke about the dire conditions faced by lecturers and the subsequent resignation of many in search of better prospects.
According to Prof. Akinwole, “Except President Bola Tinubu arrests the situation by reviewing the conditions of service in terms and salaries, allowances, and infrastructure, many good hands will continue to resign and leave the country. Unfortunately, the same government that is not funding education has a National Assembly proposing to establish 32 more universities.”
The chairman emphasized the urgent need for President Tinubu to address the issue by reviewing the conditions of service, including salaries, allowances, and infrastructure.
He said, “The union has received reports on how colleagues resign on a monthly basis because of the way lecturers are treated and poorly remunerated in Nigeria.
“Universities around the world are poaching more quality hands, and if not halted by the government, through intentional reviewing of upward conditions of service, it will be difficult to retain the best hands.”
Prof. Akinwole further highlighted the challenges faced by Vice Chancellors in hiring new staff, stating that “Vice Chancellors cannot single-handedly employ to replace staff as urgent as it is needed again.
“They have to contact Abuja for approval, which may take six months to a year, if not more, before they get approval. By this time, the best candidate has gone to a more serious country that respects quality. Sadly, people from higher up there from the Ministry of Education to legislators themselves want to dictate who the universities should employ.”
