By: Godwin Onuh Odeh, PhD & Maria Abdullahi, PhD Several calls have been made regarding the deplorable state of Nigerian un...
By: Godwin Onuh Odeh, PhD & Maria Abdullahi, PhD
Several calls have been made regarding the deplorable state of Nigerian university lecturers' salaries which, as a matter of fact, is a glaring indictment of the government's priorities and the neo-liberal economic policies that have ravaged the education sector. The demand for an upward salary review is not merely a matter of economic adjustment but a call for a radical transformation of the system that has relegated lecturers to the margins of society.
The current salary structure is a relic of colonialism and imperialism, designed to perpetuate the exploitation of the masses and maintain the dominance of the ruling elite. It is a national as well as international embarrassment and shame to even publish the meager salaries paid to lecturers, especially professors, compared to mere senators, special advisers, and other political office holders. The lecturer's salaries are a testament to the government's disregard for the value of knowledge and the role of educators in shaping the future of society.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been at the forefront of the struggle for improved lecturer welfare, and the union has done pretty well in all the engagements, but their efforts are often met with resistance from a government more concerned with serving the interests of the ruling class. The government's allocation of funds to education is woefully inadequate, and the prioritization of lecturer salaries is sacrificed at the altar of neo-liberal economic policies that prioritize profit over people.
The upward salary review is not just an economic issue but a political one. It requires a more radical and fundamental shift in the government's priorities and a recognition of the value of education and educators in society. We should always reflect on the words of Malala Yousafzai, "Let us remember: one book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world." That one book, one pen, one child, and teacher can come from Nigeria if President Ahmed Bola Tinubu does the needful by exercising his political will, putting the salary of professors at bar at 3.5M. An amount not comparable to the Nigerian Senator's salaries.
It is noteworthy to point out at this point that the struggle for improved lecturer welfare is part of a broader struggle for social justice, equality, and the democratization of education. "Justice, they say, is not a bone thrown to the dog but a bone shared with the dog." And democratization, as respected Professor Attahiru Jega argued, should lead to "life more abundant" and not poverty, as lecturers currently face. Those with whose lay the power of the upward review of lecturer's salaries should take note of this.
A lot of Memoranda called Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) without understanding on the side of FG and Memorandum of Action (MoA) without any meaningful action from FG have been signed by both FG/ASUU, too many that the FG has started forgetting some, as seen in the recent denial of the 2009 agreement between ASUU and FG and other agreements by the Minister of Education.
To achieve this, we need a radical transformation of the education system, one that prioritizes the needs of the people over the interests of the ruling elite. This requires a fundamental shift in the way education is funded, managed, and delivered. It requires a recognition of the role of educators as agents of social change and a commitment to providing them with the resources and support they need to fulfill their mandate.
In conclusion, the demand for an upward salary review for Nigerian university lecturers is not just an economic demand but a call for a radical transformation of the education system and the society at large. It requires a fundamental shift in the government's priorities and a recognition of the value of education and educators in society. We must continue to struggle for a society that values knowledge, equality, and social justice.
Comrade Dr. Odeh is a public affairs analyst and commentator and Dr. Maria Abdullahi, Department of Economics, Sokoto State University, Sokoto.
No comments