84 Lecturers Died From Economic Hardship In 3 Months – ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has revealed that 84 of its members died between May and August 2024 due to economic hardship and unpaid salaries.

The President of the union, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, made this disclosure on Channels Television’s socio-political programme ‘Inside Sources’ with Laolu Akande.

“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,” he said.

He added that while the gederal government is still holding on to the three months and half salaries of the lecturers, it has continued to introduce policies that are making life unbreakable for the lecturers.

“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,” he said.

He lamented that the Nigerian lecturers can’t compete globally if they are not well-paid, disclosing that he earns N420,000 per month despite being a professor for 15 years.

Osodeke called for increased funding for university education, emphasising that to ensure the sector’s optimal functioning, lecturers must be adequately rewarded.

Recall that on September 25, 2024, ASUU issued the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to resolve several lingering issues including the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement as well as the release of withheld salaries due to the 2022 industrial action.