The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reported that over 80 members of the union have died between May and August 2024 as a result of economic downturn and unpaid salaries.
ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, made this shocking statement during an interview on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, aired on Channels Television.
Osodeke lamented over the devastating situations with Nigerian academics stating, “In the past three months, from May to August, Nigerian universities lost 84 academics to death. In three months, because of what our people are going through.”
He attributed the loss of these members to the Federal Government’s policy; ‘no-work, no-pay’, which has left many lecturers struggling to survive in this difficult times; rising fuel and electricity costs.
Meanwhile, Osodeke has called for increased funding for university education, emphasised that Nigerian lecturers are underpaid, revealing that despite being a professor for 15 years, he earns just N420,000 monthly.
He warned that without proper remuneration, Nigerian academics cannot compete on a global scale.
