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University teachers in Nigeria are struggling to cope with the current economic conditions, forcing them to make significant sacrifices. Consequently, university teachers are now groaning under the yoke of unfavourable economic conditions. Checks from across the country showed that to stay afloat, university teachers have cut down on a lot of things to save costs. 

To reduce expenses, many have resorted to parking their cars at home and using public transportation to commute to work. Some have even taken to sleeping in their offices to minimize the cost of daily travel.

Accommodation Challenges and LASU Senate’s Warning

The Lagos State University (LASU) is one such institution where lecturers are facing accommodation challenges. Originally designed as a non-residential university, many staff members live in distant parts of Lagos, such as Iba, Badagry, and Ikorodu. The high cost of fuel, bad roads, and traffic jams have made commuting difficult, leading some lecturers to use their offices as temporary residences.

However, this practice has been condemned by the university’s Senate, which warned that it poses significant security risks and health concerns. During its 311th statutory meeting held on Thursday, June 27, 2024, the Senate considered a paper, Ref No: LASU/SEN/ST.311/024/AOB sent by the security unit of the university, and frowned on sleeping in offices by lecturers and students. The report had, among other things, said some members of staff and students were of the habit of sleeping in their offices and classrooms, to the extent of utilising kitchen utensils and other makeshift arrangements. “This behaviour is not only unbecoming but also poses significant security risks and health concerns,” the Senate noted.

A lecturer in the university, who spoke in confidence, said: “We all know that the initial plan by the founding fathers of the university was to make it non-residential. That was what all the state governments controlled by the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, in the Second Republic did in Ogun, Lagos, Bendel and Ondo states. 

“‘But things have changed. Moving from one point to another has become difficult in Lagos. Some roads have gone bad. Some of us here built our own houses in Badagry, Epe and even Ikorodu. Imagine having to commute daily from those places to the main campus here in Ojo.

“The high cost of living has not helped matters too. Many of us cannot afford to secure accommodation in nearby communities. The rent is high. Even when you secure a small place for yourself, and you have your family in your own house in Badagry for instance, where is the money to run two homes? It is a difficult situation.”

UNIJOS ASUU – “We now trek to office or use public transport

The economic downturn in Nigeria has taken a toll on university lecturers, who are struggling to make ends meet. Many have resorted to trekking or using public transport to get to work, while others have parked their cars due to the high cost of fuel.

Speaking on the situation, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Jos, Prof. Jurbe Mwolwus, said: “We have not witnessed the situation where our lecturers sleep in their offices. I am not aware of such, but people are surviving one day at a time. Many have parked their cars, trekking and using public transport to get to work.”

Prof. Adediran Ademiju-Bepo of the Department of Theatre and Film Arts, University of Jos, added: “I am not aware of any of my colleagues sleeping in their offices, but we are not finding it easy. God is helping us; my house is very far from the university, I live in Jos East local government area, and I have some responsibilities on the campus outside teaching. I lecture twice a week and I go anytime I have other things to do. I sometimes leave my vehicle at home and go on public transport. I spend a lot on transport.”

Prof. Chris Piwuna of the same institution, said: “I am not aware of such a situation. Generally, with the transport situation, people are not able to be on campus every day. The availability and accessibility to students have reduced and the work they need to do on campus, they are unable to do. The Band A issue of electricity has challenged the university in having a steady power supply on campus; we are faced with one challenge or the other. We are either unable to go or when you get there, there is no power to get things done.”

A lecturer from Plateau State University, Bokkos, who preferred anonymity, said: “Many of us stay outside Bokkos and this economic situation has made us stay back in Bokkos two to three days a week, you either rent an apartment in Bokkos or get a place where you pay N5,000 per night, sleep and do what you need to do before going back home. That is cheaper than making the journey every day. The school bus is not adequate, and the security situation in Bokkos is also a problem that will not even allow any lecturer think of spending the night in the office.”

The situation is no better at Ebonyi State University (EBSU), where lecturers are struggling to cope with the high cost of transportation. The branch chairman of ASUU, Prof. Ikechuku Okorie Igwenyi, said: “In EBSU, we operate more of an off-campus system where most staff and students live outside the campus. The pain is excruciating and biting harder, given the economic situation of today. House owners have increased rent, there is no three-bedroom flat that is less than N600,000 annually in the town.”

Prof. Igwenyi described the situation of EBSU staff as “most appalling” due to the distance from town where lecturers live to the permanent site of the university. He said: “It is troublesome because the meagre salary can no longer carry the increase in everything. We have a situation where a professor is paid about N400,000; so we can’t afford the luxury anymore. The main campus is a bit far from the town; so as it stands today, we need at least N3,000 to go to work every day; it’s that bad. Most lecturers have parked their vehicles because they cannot fuel them.”

Prof. Igwenyi appealed to the state government and management to provide staff quarters within the school premises and increase their salaries to take care of their bills, including transport fares to school. He said: “Our take-home salaries can’t foot our bills anymore.”

AE-FUNAI ASUU – Our salary takes us for only two weeks 

The Chairman of ASUU, Alex Ekwueme University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo, AE-FUNAI, Dr. Louis Omenyi, revealed that staff spend their one-month salary within two weeks on transport fare to school. He explained that the university doesn’t have staff quarters, making it difficult to operate from Abakaliki to Ikwo where the school is situated.

“The situation has worsened due to the economic crisis in the country. Our monthly salaries can’t carry us to school for one month, it can only take us for two weeks due to a lack of accommodation in the school. The management said there is no fund to build staff quarters in the school.”

“We are appealing to the Federal Government to increase our salaries to be able to cater for our families, pay our bills, and transport us to school daily. We are aware of inflation, occasioned by the economic brouhaha. So, we are calling on the Federal Government to provide accommodation in the long run and consider the increase in our salaries to enable us attend to our duties diligently,” he appealed.

Sociologist – Lecturers are being mentally drained 

Prof. Oludayo Tade, a lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, said: “I am increasingly alarmed by the welfare challenges we face. The lack of adequate staff accommodation has become a critical issue.”

“Many of us live far from campus, leading to exhausting commuting, and some even resort to sleeping in offices after late lectures. This situation not only affects our physical and mental well-being, but also diminishes our capacity to engage effectively with our students.”

“The current economic climate further complicates these challenges. With rising inflation and stagnant salaries, many lecturers struggle to meet basic needs. Juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet takes a toll on our health and our focus on teaching and research.”

“These challenges extend beyond personal struggles; they significantly impact our students as well. When lecturers are overwhelmed and stressed, the quality of education suffers, ultimately affecting student engagement and success.”

“It is essential for us to come together to advocate better working conditions, fair remuneration, and adequate housing. Addressing these welfare concerns is critical for the future of education at the University of Ibadan, benefiting both faculty and students. Together, we can work toward creating the change that is so desperately needed.”

The Chairman of ASUU, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU, Prof. Chike Ugwuene, said he could only comment on the matter with permission from the national leadership.

“I don’t have permission to speak on the matter. It’s part of the matter our national president is taking up with the Federal Government. It’s part of their dialogues and negotiations, and until these dialogues fail, I cannot speak on them.”

However, some lecturers of the university who pleaded anonymity, for fear of victimization, lamented the high cost of transportation to and from campus. The lecturers, majority of who live and operate from Umuahia, a distance of about six kilometers, said they spend so much on transportation, arguing that they are left with virtually nothing after deducting transportation cost, cost of writing papers for publication in journals, attending conferences, and other obvious costs from their salary.

CONUA Tells Govt – Show empathy, pay living wages 

The National President of the Congress of University Academics, CONUA, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, charged the government to show empathy regarding the plight of lecturers.

“Government should show empathy and be tactical in handling the welfare issues of lecturers. Lecturers who have to sleep in their offices because they live far from campus are putting themselves in difficult situations. Let the government pay us living wages and take the issue of our welfare as a top priority,” he said.

FG – We’re not toying with welfare issues

The federal government has, however, said the welfare of lecturers was a priority, assuring that it was not playing with it. The Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, while commenting on the matter, noted that the government took the issue of welfare of lecturers, students, and others with seriousness.

“The government does not take issues relating to the education sector with levity. That shows in the various interventions. For the institutions, various steps are being taken to improve them. For students, the Student Loan Scheme is one of the intervention steps.”

“For lecturers, the constant engagement between them and the government is there. To make things better, the Yayale Ahmed Committee is engaging lecturers now to resolve some issues. The government cares and is doing the needful,” she said.

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