The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the death of 84 of its members between May and August 2024, attributing the tragic loss to the crushing economic hardship and unpaid salaries faced by Nigerian academics. ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, made this startling disclosure during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme on Channels Television.
“In the past three months, from May to August (2024), Nigerian universities lost 84 academics to death. In just three months, because of what our people are going through,” Osodeke lamented. He highlighted the dire situation academics are enduring, struggling to survive without pay while contending with the skyrocketing cost of living, driven by fuel price hikes and increased electricity tariffs.
At the heart of the crisis is the federal government’s continued enforcement of the ‘no work, no pay’ policy, which was applied following the 2022 nationwide university strike. The eight-month strike, staged by academic and non-academic unions, was an attempt to demand better working conditions and increased funding for Nigerian universities. However, the policy left ASUU members grappling with months of unpaid salaries, exacerbating their financial difficulties.
“Despite this crisis, you are holding somebody’s three-and-a-half or more salaries on the ‘no work, no pay’ policy. People are trying to survive, and everything is gone now,” Osodeke said.
He pointed to his own situation, revealing that, despite being a professor for 15 years, he earns a meager N420,000 per month. This salary, he argued, makes it almost impossible for Nigerian lecturers to remain globally competitive. He emphasized that increased funding for university education and better compensation are crucial to keep the sector afloat.
In response to the ongoing crisis, ASUU has issued the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum, demanding the resolution of unresolved issues, including the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and the payment of withheld salaries. While President Bola Tinubu authorized the payment of four months of withheld salaries in October 2023, Osodeke insists that ASUU members must be fully compensated for the entire period of the 2022 industrial action.
“We have not been done any favours. Our members deserve to be fully paid for the entire eight months,” Osodeke stated, as the union braces for further action should the government fail to meet its demands.
