By Bolaji Peters (SIWES student, Polytechnic Iresi)
ASUU expresses deep concern over the escalating departure of lecturers from Nigerian public universities. According to Prof. Akinwole, the union’s chairman in Ibadan, the exodus is driven by subpar conditions, including meager pay and excessive workloads, resulting in critical understaffing in numerous departments.
Prof. Akinwole urges President Bola Tinubu to enhance lecturer working conditions, emphasizing that unless addressed, the situation will deteriorate. He highlights low salaries, inadequate infrastructure, and the government’s neglect of education as primary factors pushing lecturers to seek better opportunities elsewhere.
Prof. Akinwole criticizes the National Assembly’s proposal to create 32 new universities, cautioning that this would exacerbate the existing crisis.
Instead, he advocates for increased funding for current institutions, addressing the root issues of low pay, insufficient infrastructure, and limited capacity.
He stresses that the international recruitment of Nigerian lecturers is causing a detrimental “brain drain” and calls for government intervention to curb this trend.
The professor underscores the challenges in recruiting new staff, citing a prolonged bureaucratic process requiring approval from Abuja.
This lengthy procedure, taking up to a year, hinders timely replacements, allowing the best candidates to secure opportunities abroad.
Prof. Akinwole also notes instances where influential figures manipulate the hiring process for personal gain, potentially resulting in less qualified individuals being appointed.
