The unsatisfactory income of university professors has been lamented by Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the previous general election. On Thursday, he expressed his distress, pointing out the case of a friend who had been a university professor for approximately 14 years. The friend had requested him to recommend him for a Special Adviser position should a particular candidate emerge victorious in the House of Representatives election. This was because the friend believed he would earn more and enjoy more benefits as a Special Adviser than as a professor.
In a social media post, the former Anambra State governor emphasized the disparity in earnings, highlighting that after 14 years of dedicated service, Nigerian university professors now earn only 10% of what they earned 14 years ago. This, in Obi’s view, is an alarming trend and a reflection of the deteriorating conditions for educators in the country.
Obi urged that considering the critical role of the education sector in national development, the country needs a committed workforce. However, he questioned how this could be achieved when the income of professors is regressing. He recounted a meeting with a former brilliant student who had become a lecturer and eventually a professor. Despite the initial joy at his academic achievements, Obi was saddened to find out later that the professor’s enthusiasm had waned due to his discouraging welfare situation.
The ex-governor conducted a financial comparison, illustrating that the salary of a Nigerian university professor, which previously amounted to about $2665 in 2010, now only amounts to about $265, due to the unchanged salary despite the significant devaluation of the currency over 14 years.
Obi concluded that it is disheartening that after reaching the pinnacle of their academic careers, Nigerian university professors are now earning a mere fraction of what they used to. He emphasized that such a situation is uniquely Nigerian and called for urgent attention to address the issue.
