After dem nationwide protest wey end on Tuesday, ASUU members don ready to hold congress to decide wetin dem go do next.

This one dey happen as Federal Government wan hold meeting today to try settle the wahala wey dey ground since, about the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement wey dem renegotiate. Na that matter cause the protest wey scatter universities on Tuesday.

Earlier this year, President Bola Tinubu release N50 billion to pay some academic allowances wey government dey owe lecturers and university workers.

But ASUU still dey para say government never show clear commitment for better salary, beta working condition, university money matter, autonomy, and make dem review the laws wey dey guide NUC and JAMB.

The meeting wey go happen today go get Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa; Minister of Labour, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi; and people from National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. Dem go try arrange timetable to sign and start the new agreement small small.

Government people wey dey Education and Labour ministry yarn say the meeting go try balance the Yayale Ahmed committee draft wey dem finish December 2024 with the original 2009 agreement and other reports like the Nimi Briggs one.

Dem go also talk how to fit put the money matter inside national budget and make the agreement legal.

ASUU president, Prof. Chris Piwuna, talk say dem dey expect serious commitment from government. Him talk say, “I hope say dem go bring something wey make sense. Our members don tire for talk wey no get action.”

But Piwuna clear say ASUU no dey invited for the meeting wey go happen today.

Him still talk say ASUU don finish with protest and dem go now hold congress to decide wetin go happen next.

“We no get any meeting with Federal Government tomorrow (today). Na their meeting, we no dey involved. Dem never invite us at all.

“But we go let Nigerians know wetin we go do next after the protest. We dey operate from bottom go up. Protest don finish, so we go ask our members wetin dem want make we do, and we go do am as their elected leaders,” na wetin Piwuna yarn.

Before the protest wey happen Tuesday, ASUU branches don already warn say dem patience don finish since the renegotiation wey end December 2024 and wey dem submit to government for February.

For one press conference wey happen for Abuja, ASUU zonal coordinator for Abuja, Prof. Al-Amin Abdullahi, talk say the union don do their own part of the agreement and dem dey expect government to adopt the report sharp sharp.

Him talk say past reports just dey gather dust inside filing cabinet and if government no act fast, e fit lead to another shutdown of public universities.

ASUU still reject the loan-style “support funds” wey government offer instead of the cash wey dem suppose pay.

The meeting wey dey happen today dey come as ASUU members don dey complain steady about poor salary and how academic work don dey suffer. Professors dey collect like N500,000 monthly, some dey sleep for office quarters, and even dey struggle enter student bus.

Documents show say under the Consolidated University Academic Salary structure, Graduate Assistants dey earn between N125,000 and N138,020 monthly, while professors dey earn between N525,010 and N633,333.

Assistant Lecturers dey collect between N150,000 and N171,487; Lecturer II dey get N186,543 to N209,693; Lecturer I dey earn N239,292 to N281,956; Senior Lecturer dey collect N386,101 to N480,780; and Readers dey earn N436,392 to N522,212.

One former Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, talk say lecturers don tire, morale don low, and dem dey poorly paid. Him talk say academic staff dey on edge, wan leave the system. Teaching standard don dey drop. Him say as VC, him dey earn N900,000, but now as professor, him salary na N700,000. Him son see the payslip and call am joke. Some lecturers even dey sleep for office.

ASUU president, Prof. Chris Piwuna, talk say many lecturers dey earn just above N400,000 and accuse government say dem dey neglect academics but dey quick raise salary for politicians.

Him talk say e no surprise say FG dey ignore lecturers while Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission dey plan salary increase for public office holders.

Him add say stagnant salary don spoil universities’ chance to attract better lecturers, morale don drop, and output don suffer.

Piwuna talk say, “From experience, Nigerian elites and politicians dey always look after themselves. So we no surprise say the government arms wey Nigerians dey vex for na dem dey get pay rise, while people wey dey work day and night to move the country forward dey suffer.

“Our salary don stagnant, and e don affect the kind lecturers we fit attract. E don affect our morale, and as morale low, output go surely drop. Our salary and work condition na collective bargaining product. Last time we do am na 2009. Government add N40,000 through minimum wage increase, but na for all public service, and e no really change anything.”

“So, professors wey dey earn small pass N400,000 never still reach that N500,000 level wey you dey talk, except maybe na those wey don dey collect small increase every year for like 10 or 20 years.”

As e be so, one Senior Lecturer for Economics Department, University of Lagos, Prof. Tunde Adeoye, don beg Federal Government make dem quick review lecturers salary to avoid another strike wahala.

According to am, Federal Government suppose show concern for lecturers matter and sit down with dem renegotiate that 2009 agreement. Him talk say the main issue na how to better the salary structure for academics.

Adeoye talk say government need increase university lecturers salary to match the kind economic situation wey dey Nigeria now.

Him still talk say professor salary for Nigerian university na about N500,000 before dem remove anything, but once dem deduct finish, e go drop to like N300,000.

Him mention say for other African countries like Kenya and Zimbabwe, lecturers dey collect better money pass Nigeria own. Him beg Federal Government make dem try improve lecturers living condition and work environment to stop brain drain.

Adeoye talk say, “ASUU members get family and old parents wey dem dey take care of. As e be now, many of our members no fit pay house rent.”