The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed 35 per cent salary increment for academic staff, describing it as inadequate and a reflection of longstanding underfunding of the university system.
The Lagos Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Adesola Nassir, made this known on Tuesday during a press briefing at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED).
Nassir said the offer fell short of addressing the economic realities faced by lecturers, stressing that Nigerian academics would remain among the lowest-paid on the continent even with the proposed adjustment.
He described the increment as “wretched and unscientific,” insisting that it does not reflect the professional responsibilities and qualifications of university staff.
“The recent offer of a 35 per cent increase in salaries is not only unscientific but will still result in Nigeria’s academics being poorly compensated compared to their counterparts in other countries,” he said.
The zonal coordinator noted that years of neglect had eroded the value of academic salaries, adding that any review must be substantial enough to address inflation and the current cost-of-living crisis.
Nassir recalled that under the 2009 agreement between ASUU and the Federal Government, a professor earned the equivalent of about 300 dollars monthly, a figure that has since depreciated significantly due to economic instability.
He said the union’s demand was not merely for salary adjustments but for comprehensive funding of Nigerian universities to improve teaching, research and overall institutional infrastructure.
ASUU urged the Federal Government to implement agreements reached with the union and prioritise the revitalisation of public universities to prevent further deterioration of standards.
