ASUU Raises Alarm Over Staff Shortage in Nigerian Universities

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed concern over the increasing shortage of staff in most departments and units of Nigeria’s public universities. The Union attributes this to the resignation of lecturers seeking better opportunities.

ASUU cites delayed salaries, unpaid allowances, poor infrastructure, lack of respect for the academic community, and dwindling hope as the main factors driving the resignations. The Chairman of the University of Ibadan Chapter of ASUU, Professor Ayo Akinwole, stated on Tuesday that the condition of Nigeria’s public universities is pitiable, with stress and frustration evident among poorly-remunerated lecturers.

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Professor Akinwole praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for arresting the situation by reviewing the conditions of service, including salaries, allowances, and infrastructure. However, he warned that without such interventions, many competent lecturers would continue to resign and leave the country.

The ASUU Chairman criticized the government for its lack of funding for education while proposing to establish 32 more universities. He suggested that instead of establishing more universities, the government should improve the carrying capacity of existing universities to admit more students.

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Professor Akinwole revealed that the Union receives reports of colleagues resigning every month due to poor treatment and remuneration. He warned that universities worldwide are attracting more quality lecturers, and without a government-led review of service conditions, it will be challenging to retain the best hands.

The ASUU boss further disclosed that government policy makes it difficult to retain good hands because getting approval from Abuja to employ may take up to a year, by which time the candidate has left for better opportunities.

He lamented, “Vice Chancellors cannot single-handedly employ to replace staff as urgently as needed. They have to contact Abuja for approval, which may take six months to a year, if not more, before they get approval. By this time, the best candidate has gone to a more serious country that respects quality.”

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Professor Akinwole expressed concern that those with little understanding of university administration now dictate how universities should be run, from the Ministry of Education to legislators.