The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed worry over the increasing number of Nigerian professors leaving public universities to work in foreign countries where they get better pay and working conditions.
The ASUU Chairman at the University of Ibadan, Dr. Adefemi Afolabi, spoke during a radio programme in Ibadan.
He said not only senior professors but also young lecturers who were recently employed are quitting their jobs because of poor salaries and harsh working conditions.
“We don’t work in a good environment. How do you expect lecturers to be happy when they are poorly paid?” he asked.
Dr. Afolabi explained that the ongoing ASUU strike started because the government had failed to keep its promises and had not shown sincerity in dealing with the union’s welfare issues.
He said, “Lecturers are struggling to survive because of high inflation. Many can’t even afford transport to work. Those who manage to come to the office find it hard to concentrate due to financial stress.”
Afolabi accused the government of wasting time by setting up multiple committees without taking real action. He said this delay shows the government does not take university workers seriously.
ASUU began a two-week warning strike on Monday to protest the government’s failure to meet its demands.
The union said the government has not shown respect for education or for the people who teach in public universities.
Dr. Afolabi stressed that ASUU will not give up its fight for better pay and working conditions. He said the union wants the government to properly fund universities so that students from poor homes can still get quality education.