Lecturers at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Tuesday staged a protest over what they described as worsening welfare conditions and government neglect.
The lecturers, who carried placards around the university campus, said the Federal Government must urgently address their demands, which include an upward review of their salaries, payment of three months’ outstanding wages, and settlement of promotion arrears that have been pending for years.
Addressing journalists during the protest, ASUU UNIUYO branch leaders said the poor treatment of lecturers had reached an unbearable stage. They noted that while inflation continues to rise, lecturers’ salaries have remained stagnant, leaving many struggling to cope with basic living expenses.
The protesters stressed that the failure of the government to meet its obligations to academics was not only an attack on their welfare but also a direct threat to the survival of Nigeria’s public universities. They argued that when lecturers are demoralised, students and the entire education system suffer.
ASUU UNIUYO members also condemned what they called deliberate delays in paying outstanding entitlements, particularly promotion arrears. They said it was unacceptable for lecturers who had earned their promotions through years of service and academic excellence to be denied their rightful benefits.
The union further criticised the government for owing three months’ salaries, describing the situation as shameful and unjustifiable. They insisted that no worker can give their best under such conditions of neglect and financial uncertainty.
Placards carried by the protesting lecturers bore inscriptions such as “Pay Us Our Salaries Now,” “Stop Owing Lecturers,” and “Education Cannot Thrive on Empty Promises.” These messages, they said, represent the frustration of university teachers who have been pushed to the wall.
The protest also highlighted the union’s demand for an upward review of salaries to reflect current economic realities. According to ASUU UNIUYO, Nigerian lecturers are among the least paid in Africa despite their enormous contributions to research, teaching, and national development.
The union warned that unless the government urgently addresses these issues, the situation could degenerate into a full-blown strike, which would once again disrupt academic activities and negatively affect students.
ASUU leaders at UNIUYO called on President Bola Tinubu to personally intervene in the crisis and fulfil his campaign promise that university lecturers would no longer need to resort to strikes to press home their demands. They said direct engagement with ASUU would help restore confidence and prevent another round of industrial disharmony.
Conclusively, the lecturers maintain that their protest is peaceful, but they stressed that patience is running out. They reaffirmed their commitment to defending the welfare of their members and ensuring that the Nigerian university system receives the attention it deserves.
