Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu has revealed that the government is willing to increase the salaries of lecturers by 23.5% while Professors get a 35% increment.
Adamu revealed this when he met with the Vice Chancellors and other stakeholders of universities on Tuesday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
He also stated that the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari categorically warned about reaching agreements they won’t be able to fulfill.
“In all we have been doing, our guide has been the directive of Mr President Muhammadu Buhari, namely, that while the unions should be persuaded to return to work, Government should not repeat the past mistakes of accepting to sign an agreement it will be unable to implement. Government should not, in the guise of resolving current challenges, sow seeds for future disruptions,” says Adamu.
“Not only is our interaction today necessary, it is also urgent to clarify the misrepresentations and draw your attention to the facts which you, as Managers of our Universities, ought to know by virtue of your assigned duties. It is indeed one of your statutory duties to negotiate with your workers on matters of their welfare and conditions of service,” the Minister said.
“The Federal Government can only afford a 23.5% salary increase for all category of the workforce in Federal Universities, except for the professorial cadre which will enjoy a 35% upward review,” he said.
“Henceforth, allowances that pertain to ad-hoc duties of the academic and non-academic staff shall be paid as at when due by the Governing Councils of Universities to which such services are rendered and to the staff who perform
them.
“That a sum of 150 billion Naira shall be provided for in the 2023 Budget as funds for the revitalization of Federal Universities, to be disbursed to the Institutions in the First Quarter of the year, and that a sum of 50 billion Naira shall be provided for in the 2023 Budget for the payment of outstanding areas of earned academic allowances, to be paid in the First Quarter of the year,” Adamu said. Nigerian lecturers have been on strike since February 14.