By John Umeh
Nigeria’s university system is once again on the edge of paralysis as lecturers prepare for another showdown with the Federal Government. Their grievance is simple but pressing: while professors who train the nation’s future leaders take home a modest ₦633,000 monthly, senators reportedly pocket up to ₦21 million every month.
The disparity has reignited old questions about the country’s values — does Nigeria truly value education, or merely pay lip service to it?
Lecturers Cry Out for a ‘Living Wage’
The three main academic unions — the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), and the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) — are united in frustration. They insist that their salaries have been stagnant since 2009 despite skyrocketing inflation.
While Imo State recently raised the pay of its university professors to about ₦812,000 monthly, federal professors still earn much less. For many, this remains a far cry from what is considered a “living wage” in today’s economy.
The Senatorial Pay Mystery
The Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Committee (RMAFC) insists lawmakers earn about ₦1 million monthly. But former senator Shehu Sani lifted the lid years ago, disclosing that he received ₦13.5 million monthly during his time in office — a figure that has now allegedly ballooned to ₦21 million in the current Senate.
The secrecy around lawmakers’ actual pay has only deepened public anger. Many argue it is shameful that those with the bare minimum of qualifications — sometimes just a WAEC certificate — earn tens of millions, while professors who spend decades in research, teaching, and nation-building scrape by on salaries barely enough to survive.
Public Backlash and Calls for Reform
The revelations have triggered outrage across the country. Education advocates and ordinary Nigerians alike have described the pay gap as proof that Nigeria does not value intellectual labor.
“How can a councillor or senator earn more than a professor?” one commentator asked on social media. “We must rethink our priorities as a nation.”
Lecturers’ Demands and Strike Threats
The lecturers are not only asking for salary reviews but also for overdue allowances, revitalization funds, and better infrastructure for universities. These demands, first agreed upon in 2009, remain largely unfulfilled.
ASUU has warned that unless the government acts swiftly, another nationwide strike is inevitable — one that could once again disrupt academic calendars and further damage the already fragile education system.
At the heart of the crisis lies a fundamental question: Will Nigeria finally reward its intellectuals with dignity, or will the country continue to enrich politicians while starving its universities?
