…warn of collapse in higher education
By our correspondent
The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors has called for an immediate upward review of lecturers’ pay across Nigeria, proposing a new salary floor of N500,000 monthly for academics in both public and private tertiary institutions.
In a press statement signed by its President, Dr Stephen Nwala, and Secretary General, Dr Uzor Ngoladi, FOSAD said the demand was necessitated by “harsh economic realities, persistent hyperinflation, and the rapidly declining purchasing power of Nigerian workers.”
“The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) has called on the Federal Government, State Governments, proprietors of private universities and other tertiary institutions to urgently review the salaries of lecturers upward to not less than N500,000 monthly,” the statement read.
The group said lecturers have continued to bear the brunt of the current economic crisis despite their central role in national development. According to FOSAD, the existing salary structure “can no longer guarantee a decent standard of living” for academics.
“FOSAD notes with deep concern that lecturers in both public and private institutions have continued to bear the brunt of the current economic crisis despite their critical role in teaching, research, innovation, and national development,” the Forum stated.
FOSAD also aligned itself with the Nigeria Labour Congress and the broader labour movement on the need for a significant wage increase nationwide.
“The Forum aligns itself with the position of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the organised labour movement in demanding a significant upward review of workers’ wages across the country. The call for improved remuneration is not only justified but necessary for social stability and sustainable development,” it said.
The Forum painted a grim picture of the last three years, noting that inflation has wiped out whatever gains workers made. It listed food, housing, transport, healthcare, electricity and school fees as areas where costs have “risen astronomically.”
“Over the past three years, the purchasing power of workers has been severely eroded. Prices of food items, clothing, housing, transportation, healthcare, electricity, and other essential goods and services have risen astronomically. Many lecturers now spend a substantial proportion of their earnings on feeding alone, while rent, school fees for their children, and medical expenses have become increasingly unaffordable,” FOSAD said.
The group warned that financial pressure is already affecting the university system. It observed that some academics have been forced to take on multiple jobs to survive, a development it described as a threat to teaching quality and research output.
“The current economic situation has pushed many academics into financial distress, forcing some to seek multiple jobs to survive. This trend poses a serious threat to the quality of teaching, research productivity, mentorship, and the overall integrity of the nation’s higher education system,” the statement noted.
To address the crisis, FOSAD is asking for two immediate steps. First, the adoption of N500,000 as a minimum benchmark for lecturers across all tertiary institutions. Second, the creation of a permanent review mechanism tied to inflation and cost-of-living indices.
“The Forum therefore insists that a minimum salary benchmark of N500,000 for lecturers should be adopted across public and private tertiary institutions as an immediate relief measure, while a comprehensive salary review mechanism tied to inflation and cost-of-living indices should also be institutionalized,” it said.
FOSAD further urged the Federal Government to enter sincere negotiations with organised labour and other stakeholders to arrive at “a realistic and sustainable wage structure that reflects prevailing economic conditions.” It also called on private university proprietors to recognize the link between pay and quality.
“Employers in the private education sector should equally recognise that quality education cannot be achieved when academic staff are poorly remunerated,” the Forum stated.
In a strong appeal to policymakers, FOSAD argued that Nigeria’s ambition to build a knowledge-driven economy cannot succeed without investing in those who produce knowledge.
“Nigeria cannot build a competitive knowledge economy while neglecting those who produce knowledge. Investment in lecturers is an investment in national development, human capital formation, innovation, and economic growth,” it said.
The group cautioned that continued neglect could worsen poverty, accelerate brain drain, and further weaken universities and other tertiary institutions.
“The Forum calls on policymakers to treat this matter with urgency and patriotism, as continued neglect of workers’ welfare may deepen poverty, increase brain drain, and further weaken the education sector,” the statement added.
FOSAD concluded by restating its commitment to advocating for policies that protect academic welfare and improve education delivery in the country.
“FOSAD remains committed to advocating policies that promote the welfare of academics, improve the quality of education, and advance sustainable development in Nigeria,” the statement concluded.
