The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has revealed that 84 of its members died between May and August 2024, attributing the deaths to economic hardship and unpaid salaries.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, made this disclosure during an appearance on Channels Television’s socio-political program, Inside Sources with Laolu Akande.
“In the past three months, from May to August 2024, Nigerian universities lost 84 academics to death, largely due to the harsh conditions our members are enduring,” Osodeke said.
“Despite this crisis, the government is withholding three-and-a-half or more months of salaries under the no-work, no-pay policy. Our members are struggling to survive amidst rising fuel and electricity costs.”
Osodeke also emphasized the need for increased funding for Nigeria’s university system, arguing that without proper motivation, lecturers cannot perform effectively or compete on a global scale.
He highlighted his own salary as an example, stating that despite being a professor for 15 years, he earns N420,000 per month.
The ASUU president also referenced the union’s recent ultimatum to the Federal Government, issued on September 25, 2024, demanding the resolution of lingering issues, including the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and the release of withheld salaries following the 2022 industrial action.
In 2022, academic and non-academic staff embarked on an eight-month strike to push for better welfare and working conditions.
The then-administration of President Muhammadu Buhari invoked a ‘no work, no pay’ policy in response.
However, in October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of four months’ worth of withheld salaries, though the remaining salaries have yet to be paid.
ASUU continues to urge the government to address these outstanding issues to prevent further hardship among its members and to improve the overall quality of higher education in Nigeria.
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