‘Nigeria Universities Will Soon Be Left With Alarming Underqualified Lecturers’ – ASUU

The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, has highlighted the most significant challenges that lecturers faced in 2024.

Osodeke, in an interview with Punch, expressed concern over the increasing number of Nigerian lecturers relocating abroad.

Osodeke said Nigerian universities would soon be left with a dwindling number of qualified lecturers if the relocation trend for green pastures continues.

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He said, “Lecturers are finding it difficult to make ends meet. Many are struggling just to stay afloat. Additionally, the government still owes us three and a half months of arrears and a full year of wage awards. Many of our colleagues are leaving the country in search of better opportunities, and if this trend continues, Nigerian universities will be left with an alarming shortage of qualified lecturers.

“The government continues to establish new universities, but they seem to overlook the critical issue of staffing. Only a few qualified lecturers are teaching in our institutions, and if nothing is done to address this, Nigeria may soon be left with a severely underqualified teaching workforce.

“Funding has always been a challenge for university professors. It’s difficult for a professor to survive on just N450,000 a month, especially when they are spending over N200,000 on fuel alone due to the recent hikes in fuel prices. With the rising costs of electricity and other living expenses, it’s becoming increasingly hard for both lecturers and students. I can only imagine how students are managing to come to school under these circumstances.”