- Safiu Kehinde
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has claimed that 84 of its members died between May and August 2024 due to economic hardship and unpaid salaries.
This was disclosed by the ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, at an interview programme on Channels TV yesterday.
According to Osodeke, the Union recorded 84 death of members from May to August 2024.
“In the past three months, from May to August (2024), Nigerian universities lost 84 academics to death. In three months, because of what our people are going through.
He, however, accused the Federal Government over failure to pay the lecturers outstanding salaries which was owned during former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari who imposed a no-work, no-pay policy on the union over their strike.
“Despite this crisis, you are holding somebody’s three-and-half or more salaries on the no-work, no-pay, you are owing this money.
“People are trying to survive, you introduced fuel increase, you introduced electricity increase, and everything is gone now.”
Meanwhile, Osodeke advocated increased funding for university education in Nigeria, saying that to get the sector functioning optimally, lecturers must be motivated.
Osodeke revealed that he earns N420,000 per month despite being a professor for 15 years as he maintained that Nigerian lecturers can’t compete globally if not well-paid.