University professors across Nigeria have raised alarm over worsening financial hardships, blaming poor remuneration and rising living costs for plunging many of them into crippling debts. The senior academics, who form the backbone of the country’s higher education system, say their take-home pay no longer meets basic needs, leaving them struggling to meet family responsibilities and professional obligations.
Several professors, speaking under the auspices of various academic unions, described their financial realities as dire. They noted that despite years of service and academic achievements, many still rely on personal loans, salary advances, and cooperative societies to survive. The situation, they warned, has eroded the dignity of the profession, forcing highly skilled lecturers into financial distress that undermines their morale and productivity.
According to reports, a professor in Nigeria currently earns far less than their counterparts in other African countries, with salaries often delayed or eroded by inflation and currency depreciation. Many academics lamented that after settling bills for rent, school fees, health care, and daily expenses, little to nothing is left, pushing them deeper into debt. They argued that this reality contradicts the expectation that professors should live comfortably as leaders of knowledge and research.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has repeatedly drawn attention to what it describes as the deliberate neglect of the teaching profession. Union leaders argue that poor remuneration not only drives intellectuals into debt but also fuels brain drain, as many lecturers seek better opportunities abroad. They warned that if urgent action is not taken, Nigeria risks losing its best minds, further weakening the country’s already struggling university system.
Students and education stakeholders have expressed concern that the financial plight of professors directly affects teaching quality and research output. They argue that a demoralized academic workforce cannot be expected to deliver world-class education, which is essential for national development. Some warned that the current situation may lead to another round of industrial actions, disrupting academic calendars and worsening the education sector’s instability.
In response, government officials have acknowledged the challenges but insist that efforts are underway to review salary structures and improve welfare for university lecturers. They point to ongoing discussions between the Ministry of Education, ASUU, and other stakeholders as part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening the higher education system. However, many professors remain skeptical, citing past unfulfilled promises.
As the cost of living continues to soar and inflation bites harder, the call for fair and competitive remuneration for Nigerian professors grows louder. For many academics, the issue is not just about personal survival but about restoring dignity to the teaching profession and safeguarding the future of higher education in the country. Until then, professors say they remain caught in a cycle of debt, struggling to balance their passion for teaching with the harsh realities of economic hardship.
