The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos Zone, has called on the Federal Government to prioritize the payment of a living wage for lecturers, insisting that the current minimum wage is grossly inadequate in the face of Nigeria’s harsh economic realities.
Lagos Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Dr. Adesola Nassir, made the demand during a press conference at the union’s secretariat, University of Lagos. He stressed that the union’s position goes beyond the minimum wage debate, as academics deserve fair remuneration that reflects the rising cost of living.
The press briefing came barely two days after ASUU members in Lagos staged a peaceful protest within the university premises to highlight their grievances. According to Nassir, the union has engaged government agencies on issues such as four years’ worth of unpaid promotion arrears, wage awards, and palliative payments, yet “no payment has been made to date.”
He accused the government of undermining university autonomy by releasing funds directly to university staff instead of to the institutions, which, he said, should have control over their finances. Nassir also warned that ASUU may be forced to declare a nationwide strike if its demands continue to be ignored, cautioning that “whatever happens next, Nigerians should hold the government responsible, not ASUU.”
On the newly introduced Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund, he lamented that what was initially presented as a grant for academic advancement, healthcare, family and transport support has now been fully converted into loans. He described the loans, which could reach up to ₦10 million, as inaccessible to most lecturers, leaving members with no real relief.
Nassir emphasized that the union’s demand for a living wage is not just about salaries, but about safeguarding the future of education in Nigeria.