The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) reports that 84 of its members died between May and August 2024 as a result of economic stress and unpaid salaries.
On Channels Television’s socio-political program Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Sunday, ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke made a shocking statement.
“In the past three months, from May to August (2024), Nigerian universities lost 84 academics to death. In three months, because of what our people are going through.
“Despite this crisis, you are holding somebody’s three-and-half or more salaries on the no-work, no-pay, you are owing this money. People are trying to survive, you introduced fuel increase, you introduced electricity increase, and everything is gone now.”
Osodeke pushed for higher funding for Nigerian universities, stating that in order for the sector to work properly, academics must be motivated.
He claimed to make N420,000 each month despite being a professor for 15 years. He believes that if Nigerian academics are not well compensated, they will be unable to compete globally.
On September 25, 2024, ASUU issued the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to resolve many outstanding concerns, including the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and the release of withheld salary from the 2022 industrial action.
In 2022, academic and non-academic unions in Nigeria went on strike for eight months to pursue their demands, which included an improved welfare package. The administration of then-President Muhammadu Buhari then implemented a ‘no work, no pay policy’ against the unions, but in October 2023, President Bola Tinubu allowed the payment of four of the approximately eight months’ withheld salaries.
ASUU members were paid four months of their withholding pay, whereas members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) were not paid at all. The two non-academic unions went on strike earlier in March, and Education Minister Tahir Mamman indicated the government would consider half-pay for them.
Osodeke stated that ASUU members must be adequately compensated for the duration of the industrial action in 2022. He claimed that the Tinubu administration did lecturers no favors by clearing four of their withholding salaries, which amounted to almost eight months.
