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ASUU decries lecturer shortage, infrastructure decay in varsities
The Academic Staff Union of Universities issued a warning on Tuesday, stating that the resignation of lecturers who were looking for better opportunities had left most departments in Nigeria's public universities understaffed.
The academic community bemoaned the fact that the creation of additional universities had not resolved the issue of admissions.
In order to admit more students, it urged the government to increase the carrying capacity of currently operating universities.
Prof. Ayo Akinwole, the Chairman of the ASUU University of Ibadan Chapter, made this revelation in Ibadan, Oyo State, saying that the state of Nigeria's public universities was appalling, with stressed-out and frustrated-looking instructors.
He declared, "Many talented individuals will continue to leave the country and resign unless President Bola Tinubu intervenes by reviewing the terms of service in terms of salaries, allowances, and infrastructure. Regretfully, a National Assembly proposal to create 32 more universities is being made by the same government that does not fund education.
According to the ASUU chairman, among the reasons for the resignation of lecturers in the previous few months were low and delayed salaries, unpaid benefits, inadequate infrastructure, disrespect for the academic community, and a seemingly dwindling hope.
According to Akinwole, "the union has received reports on how colleagues quit on a monthly basis due to the mistreatment and inadequate pay of lecturers in Nigeria." Universities all over the world are stealing more talented employees, and if the government doesn't intervene by purposefully reviewing upward conditions of service, it will be challenging to hold on to the best employees.
Akinwole stated, "The union has been informed of reports of colleagues quitting their jobs on a monthly basis due to the mistreatment and low pay of lecturers in Nigeria. More talented people are leaving universities around the world, and if this trend is not stopped by the government, it will be challenging to keep the best employees through deliberate reviews of upward conditions of service.
Vice Chancellors are unable to hire new employees on their own when they become necessary again. They must apply for approval from Abuja, and it might take them up to a year, if not longer, to hear back. By now, the top contender has moved to a more responsible nation that values excellence. Regretfully, higher authorities—from the Ministry of Education to lawmakers themselves—want to control who universities hire," he remarked.