Hunger: 84 Nigerian Lecturers Die In Three Months Over Economic Hardship

Our reporter

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, has revealed that at least 84 Nigerian university lecturers have died between May and August 2024, citing the on-going economic crisis and unpaid salaries as major contributors to the tragedy.

This revelation was made during an appearance on Channels Television’s political program “Inside Sources” with Laolu Akande.

Professor Osodeke detailed the severe financial strain that academics in Nigeria are facing, exacerbated by the government’s refusal to pay withheld salaries following the 2022 strike action. He lamented the compounded difficulties lecturers face, such as rising costs of fuel and electricity, and the prolonged withholding of salaries under the “no work, no pay” policy.

“In the past three months, from May to August, Nigerian universities lost 84 academics to death. In three months, because of what our people are going through,” Osodeke said.
Call for Increased University Funding

Osodeke used the occasion to renew calls for improved funding for Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
According to him, without proper financial support and adequate remuneration for lecturers, the quality of university education will continue to decline, leaving Nigerian academics unable to compete globally.

“I have been a professor for 15 years and I earn ₦420,000 per month. How do you expect lecturers to be motivated and perform at an international level if they are not well-paid?” he asked.

ASUU’s Ultimatum and Salary Disputes

The crisis in Nigerian universities has dragged on since 2022 when ASUU and other university unions embarked on a lengthy strike over salary negotiations and working conditions.

Although the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, approved the payment of four months of withheld salaries in October 2023, lecturers argue that this is insufficient. The no-pay period stems from the eight-month strike in 2022 when the government enforced a no-work, no-pay policy against the unions.

ASUU issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on September 25, 2024, calling for the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, as well as the full payment of all salaries withheld during the 2022 strike.
While some of ASUU’s demands were partially met, Osodeke insists that the partial release of funds does not resolve the larger issue.

The ASUU president also drew attention to the discrepancy in payments, as non-academic unions like the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have not received any of their withheld wages, even though they were part of the strike.

On-going Crisis in Nigerian Universities

The alarming number of deaths among university lecturers highlights the precarious situation facing Nigerian academics.

As the economic downturn deepens, university staff are forced to grapple with unpaid salaries, rising living costs, and a government that has yet to fully address their grievances.

Professor Osodeke’s call for action underscores the urgent need for reforms within Nigeria’s higher education system.