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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Calabar Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has faulted the priorities of the federal government as regards welfare of lecturers in Nigeria.
The union says while the federal government and states rake in trillions of naira with over 70% increase in revenue, lecturers are still underpaid.
The union disclosed this in a statement signed by its Zonal Coordinator Comrade Ikechuku Igwenyi and eight other executives of the zone.
“We hereby state that the problem is not paucity of funds as government posits but lack of political will to invest in the development of Nigeria.
“Empirical data from Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has revealed that in 2022, States received N3.02 trillion while in 2024, the figures rose to N5.81 trillion with an increase of over 62%.
Similarly, federal allocations rose from N3.42 trillion in 2022 to N4.65 trillion with an increase of over 70%.
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“This is clear evidence that the government has the capacity to pay lecturers in the ivory towers a befitting salary, where Professors are Generals in their own right”, the union said.
The union accused the federal government of inconsistency and dilatory approach to agreements, engagements and negotiations.
“This grand-standing and posture of never let them have their way is not the best approach as there is no competition and therefore no winner or loser”, the union said.
ASUU insisted that education is the foundation of personal and national development and no nation can rise above the quality of its universities.
The union demanded among others that the government fulfills its obligations to the Nigerian people by funding education and full implementation of agreements.
