On Thursday, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the last general election, Mr Peter Obi, bemoaned the working conditions of university lecturers.
Obi claimed that he was recently devastated when his friend—a professor at a university for almost 14 years—asked him to speak for him so that, should the candidate for the House of Representatives win, he would be named as a Special Adviser.
The former governor of Anambra State claimed in a post on his X handle that the professor’s strange request was made because working as a SA would provide him with greater benefits and income than being a professor would.
Touched by the request, Obi claimed he conducted a comparison research that revealed a Nigerian university professor currently makes 10% of what he did 14 years ago after achieving the pinnacle of his academic career, claiming that this could only be feasible in Nigeria.
In light of education’s crucial role in a country’s growth, Obi stated that the nation needs as many hands and a dedicated staff as it can obtain in this area.
However, he questioned how it could get to this point given that professor salaries in the nation were essentially declining.
“While in Nsukka, I met one of those brilliant fellows I knew while I was a student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in the 80s.
“The fellow graduated with a first class and became a lecturer in the institution. When I later visited the University as the then Governor of Anambra State, he proudly announced to me that he was already a professor and I rejoiced with him.
“I met him again in Nsukka on Wednesday, but our exchange of pleasantries resulted in very pathetic tales about his general welfare. I noticed in his look and mien that all his happiness of being a professor had vanished.
“He broke my heart when he requested that I put in words for him so that Hon Dennis Agbo can appoint him as Special Adviser when he wins.
“The reason for the bizarre request that shocked me was that he would earn more and receive more perks as an SA than as a Professor. Touched by this and applying my finance background I decided to do some comparative analysis.
“By January 31, 2010, the salary of a Nigerian University Professor was about N400,000. With the then prevalent exchange rate of N150.10 per dollar, the salary amounted to about $2665.
“Fourteen years later, on January 31, 2024, the salary of a University Professor remains about N400,000. With the prevailing exchange rate of N1,510 per dollar, the same salary now amounts to about $265.
“So after putting in 14 years of hard work, having attained the zenith of his academic career, a Nigerian University Professor now earns 10% of what he earned 14 years ago – this is only possible in Nigeria,” he said.
