ASUU Deviates From Its Objectives In Pursuit Of Their Rights - Yemi Oke, Ph.D

BY YEMI OKE

Today is indeed a very sad day. The writer was able to verifiably confirm that our Union, ASUU might have left ‘leprosy’ to cure ‘ringworm’ (in Yoruba, ASUU fi ete si’le, won n pa lapa-lapa). There are several reasons to rethink the “Leninism” and “Marxism” and/or related Leninist’s and Marxist’s ideological (dis)orientation we academic staff of Nigerian universities seem to have ignorantly entrapped ourselves. My facts are these:

(1) ASUU seems to have amplified University funding and general welfare over and above (or to the detriment) of welfare and sanity of members. This ideological orientation is not only wrong but counter-productive, and COVID-19 pandemic has further revealed the extreme vulnerability, albeit poverty, of a huge number of academic staff in Nigerian Universities.

(2) Our Number 2 in Nigeria, a proud Alumnus of a Nigerian University, and the ex-ASUU member is reputed to have been instrumental to the new salary structure of one of the anti-corruption agencies. To elicit information and confirmation of the new structure, we had to send the Academic Staff salary structure on IPPIS which was graciously sent by a colleague a few days ago.

(3) Sadly, Nigerians are of the erroneous view that ALL ASUU strikes had been due to ‘salary increase”. Nigerians are of the misguided views that, by now, ASUU should have received enough salary “hikes” or “adjustments” to dissuaded further strikes.

READ ALSO: ASUU: 13 Steps To End Incessant Strike In Nigeria

(4) It is most annoying that ASUU listed Staff welfare and salary as item number 5 or 6 of their demands, and Nigerian Government would readily meet the first 1-5 of the “shopping list” and may never get to actual salary issues. But, known too many, MOST OF US JOINED ASUU to better our lot and get better pay in the reflection of our status as it is globally applicable.

(5) An equivalent of ASUU (fresh Lecturer or L1) in the “reds” (Level 8) gets N530,000.00gross per month (net) while ASUU members in Lecturers 1 or II get between N129,000.00to N 203,000.00. Whereas, Level 13 in the ‘reds’ and equivalent gets a gross of N680,000.00 (compared to equivalent LII or LI).

(6) Worst still, Senior Lecturers get a gross of N222,229 – N 314,159 on IPPIS while Associate Professor gets a net salary of N277,179 – N350,169 per month while Zonal Heads and Directors in the “reds” get between N 1,800,000.00 – N 2,500,000.00 per month.

(7) The peak of the academic ladder is full Professor. A Professor gets a gross of between N 332, 833, 10 – N 416,743.37 per month.

READ ALSO: It’s Illegal For AGF To Request For Our BVN – ASUU

(8) THE SALARY SCALE OF N 416,743.37 is the bar (maximum net salary) any Professor could get in a Nigerian University. This is the lowest in higher institutions in Nigeria. It is now confirmed that those in the Federal Colleges of Education and Federal Polytechnics collect comparatively higher (net) salary over and above those of their counterparts in the Universities.

(9) Most academic staff have been saddened, worried and depressed. We’re privy to what our colleagues are experiencing in terms of poverty. ASUU might need to reconsider its “Leninism” and “Marxism” orientation or ideological viewpoint for a more realistic approach.

(10) A country that deserves and values its continued existence and growth would know that it takes good, sound and quality educational training of doctors to man its teaching hospitals, lawyers to become sound and incorruptible Judges to dispense justice, Engineers to build its flyovers and bridges, Scientists to discover the ‘next world’ to get to the promised land. A country that prices its University teachers and education with ‘poverty mindset’ surely never gets there, and shall continue to wallow in ignominy.

An average University teacher is sick and tired of “Leninism” and “Marxism”. We are beginning to now desire a Union (ASUU or its equivalent, be it mainstream or factional) to fight and right the wrongs inflicted on University teachers for several years or decades. University teachers deserve much more. It is up to the Federal Government of Nigeria to fund its universities, close it down if it can’t fund it or sell it off or privatize it. One thing is sure: we’ll all live to applaud or regret the options. For now, WE UNIVERSITY LECTURERS desire to earn a decent wage like those recently graduated folks trained in the Universities who now earn thrice the salary of their trainers.

Variable facts and statistics show that Assistant Lecturers should not earn below a net salary of N500,000.00; Lecturer II N 650,000.00; Lecturer I N800,000.00; Senior Lecturer N1,050,000.00; Associate Professor N1,500,000.00 and Professors not less than N2,500,000.00.

The above is the equivalent salary structure of some public servants in Nigeria, particularly the “reds”. What is the value of ‘Naira’ relative to other currencies like $USD, Pound Sterling, and others? Comparatively, decency demands that no academic staff in Nigerian Universities should earn less than N1,000,000.00and a Professor between N3,000,000.00 to N5,000,000.00 per month if and ONLY if our hospitals will continue to function with well-trained doctors; our Courts manned by well-trained Judges (initially as law graduates); and for our Engineers, Scientists and others to be globally competitive to drive the country to the promised land.

Attached is the shamelessly embarrassing salary structure (both Net and Gross) of Nigerian Lecturers on Federal Government of Nigeria’s much-touted IPPIS!!!!

By: Yemi Oke, Ph.D

(Yemi is a proud ASUU Activist. He works and resides in Lagos, Nigeria

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