Looming Crisis In Universities: Professors Earn N633,333 While Senators Pocket N21 Million
A fresh wave of controversy is brewing in Nigeria’s education sector as new reports highlight the glaring disparity between the salaries of university professors and members of the National Assembly. While a full professor—the highest academic rank—earns an average of N633,333 monthly, senators reportedly take home as much as N21 million monthly in salaries and allowances.
The revelation has rekindled longstanding frustrations within the academic community. Many lecturers argue that the current wage structure grossly undervalues the intellectual contributions of scholars tasked with educating the next generation of leaders, professionals, and innovators.
“Imagine spending over two decades earning degrees, conducting research, and mentoring thousands of students, only to be rewarded with a fraction of what lawmakers earn in one month,” lamented a professor at Ahmadu Bello University. “It is not only demoralizing but dangerous for the future of our education system.”
This disparity, experts warn, is a major driver of brain drain, with Nigerian academics migrating in droves to universities abroad where their expertise is better appreciated and rewarded. In recent years, institutions in the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, and the Middle East have benefitted from Nigeria’s mass exodus of intellectuals, leaving behind an understaffed and under-resourced system.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has consistently accused the government of systemic neglect of education. The union has staged multiple strikes in the past decade, demanding fair remuneration, improved working conditions, and increased funding for research and infrastructure.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, in earlier statements, warned that unless urgent steps are taken to address wage inequality and the general decay in the sector, Nigeria risks producing graduates ill-prepared for the global economy.
Observers say the disparity reflects a broader problem of misplaced priorities in governance. Nigeria allocates less than 10% of its annual budget to education—far below the UNESCO-recommended 15–20%. Meanwhile, the cost of running the National Assembly continues to rise, consuming a significant portion of national resources.
“This situation paints a troubling picture,” said Dr. Ifeoma Nwosu, an education policy analyst. “When lawmakers are compensated far beyond global standards while professors—who hold the key to national development—struggle to survive, it raises questions about what values drive our national budget.”
The impact of this wage imbalance extends beyond university classrooms. Chronic underfunding and recurring strikes have already disrupted academic calendars, delayed graduations, and undermined the quality of graduates. Employers have repeatedly complained about skills gaps among Nigerian graduates, a situation worsened by the declining morale of lecturers.
Economists also warn that neglecting intellectual capital poses a threat to Nigeria’s long-term economic competitiveness. “No country develops without investing in its human resources,” said Lagos-based economist Dr. Tunde Akinyemi. “If professors and researchers continue to be undervalued, innovation and knowledge creation will remain stagnant, and that will cripple the economy in the long run.”
Civil society organizations, student unions, and policy experts are now calling on the federal government to review the remuneration structure in favor of equity and national interest. Beyond salary adjustments, stakeholders insist that broader reforms are needed to reposition the education sector, including funding research, improving infrastructure, and providing incentives to retain top academic talent.
For now, tension is mounting across universities as lecturers weigh their options, with fears that a fresh round of strikes may be imminent if the government fails to respond
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