Some Vice-Chancellors, Tutorial Employees Union of Universities, ASUU, and different stakeholders on Tuesday expressed concern over the decline within the variety of lecturers within the nation’s universities.
The college schooling stakeholders bared their minds in interviews with the Information Company of Nigeria.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had just lately permitted the implementation of 35 per cent and 23 per cent of wage increment for employees of all federal tertiary establishments。
In a letter issued on Sept. 14, the CEO of Salaries, Earnings and Wages Fee, Ekpo Nta, mentioned the Federal Authorities had launched a round on the implementation of the adjusted wage construction.
The letter was addressed to the Minister of Training, Prof. Tahir Mamman.
However this appears to have come late as current media stories point out that about 50 per cent of lecturers have resigned from the assorted universities whereas extra are reportedly warming.
We have now disaster on our fingers–V-Cs
The V-C of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, blamed the dearth lecturers on the employment embargo by the Federal Authorities.
He, due to this fact, pleaded with the Federal Authorities to elevate the embargo to allow the schools bridge the hole.
The hole was brought on by a variety of components, together with lecturers in search of greener pastures at dwelling and overseas, retirement and dying.
He urged the authorities to supply the schools with the enabling atmosphere that will discourage the mind drain.
Prof. Alewo Johnson-Akubo, Vice-Chancellor, Salem College Lokoja, described the scarcity of lecturers as very unlucky.
He mentioned although universities up to now tried to handle the scenario by sabbaticals, now such association has develop into troublesome because the variety of lecturers continues to shrink.
In Yobe, Dr Muhammad Lawan, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Tutorial Yobe State College, suggested the resuscitation of tradition of absorbing first-class graduates as lecturers.
One other measure, in response to Lawan, that would assistance is to develop the present universities as an alternative of building new ones.
Additionally talking, Prof Olayemi Akinwumi, The V-C of Federal College Lokoja, FUL, just about all lecturers within the nations are overstretched as results of scarcity of lecturers.
“Every time I see what my lecturers going by to manage up with the work load I really feel it for them.
“We used to have lecturers from different universities on sabbatical however IPPIS (the unified cost platform) doesn’t allowed that anymore.
“Sabbatical is a college tradition the place as a lecturer you might be given the chance to go to a different college and lecture.
“Once more, the visiting lecturers have been very useful in areas or departments you don’t have sufficient lecturers. However due to poor funding on the a part of authorities and IPPIS, it’s no extra tenable.
“I can inform you now that this isn’t the most effective time for us, the vice chancellors.
“It’s because as V-C you don’t have any energy to make use of a single cleaner to not discuss of a lecturer. You need to go Abuja and begin begging earlier than you possibly can have one,” he mentioned.
The V-C urged correct funding of the schools and abolishing eradicating of universities from of IPPIS platform, including that: “we (the schools) shouldn’t be subjected to civil service guidelines’’.
High quality of levels is in jeopardy—ASUU
Universities lecturers who bear the brunt of the exit of their colleagues are additionally anxious by the impression of this on their workload and tutorial requirements.
Tutorial Employees Union of Universities, (ASUU) Federal College of Lafia (FULafia) says the scarcity of lecturers in Nigeria universities is affecting the usual and high quality of schooling negatively.
“It’s a undeniable fact that many lecturers have left the college system in Nigeria. This exodus is outlined by the poor working situations current within the universities.
“The schools are coping largely as a result of the few current lecturers are being over burdened with extra work load which can be tutorial.
“And in most departments, lecturers are made to show giant courses and extra programs to have the ability to maintain the programs operating.
“It’s common to discover a lecturer educating in any respect ranges of a division with very poor amenities and really poor working situations,” mentioned Dr Sunday Oraye, the Chairman, ASUU FULafia
The ASUU chairman mentioned that this has put undue strain on their well being resulting in excessive mortality charges amongst lecturers within the college.
“Over the last NEC assembly of the union held on the Kaduna State College in November, over 100 lecturers have been reported to have died between August and November 2023 alone,” he mentioned.
In Adamawa, Dr El-Maude Gambo, the ASUU chairman, Modibbo Adama College (MAU), Yola, urged for 30 per cent budgetary allocation to schooling.
He mentioned this may engender the availability of amenities that will discourage lecturers from search greener pastures.
Dr Oluwagbemiga Adeleye, the chairman, ASUU, Federal College of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), blamed the scarcity of lecturers on authorities insurance policies and the unhealthy economic system.
“When there’s a ban, you received’t be capable of change lecturers who’ve are not within the system.
“One more reason inflicting the scarcity is the unfavourable financial impression on the residents and it nonetheless boils right down to authorities insurance policies.
“The horrible financial scenario we’ve confronted has made some lecturers search greener pastures elsewhere around the globe and that’s what we name the ‘Japa’ syndrome,” he mentioned.
The FUNAAB ASUU chairman referred to as on the federal government to be extra accountable in caring for, not solely tutorial employees however all college members of employees.
Lecturers cry out
The Head of Division, Steerage and Counseling, College of Ibadan, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, says the historical past of migration of lecturers from Nigeria was repeating itself.
“Within the Nineteen Eighties, there was an analogous situation. Then it was referred to as mind drain, however at the moment, it’s referred to as ‘japa’.
“The ‘Japa’ syndrome, which has been on for some time now has introduced nightmares to the Nigerian college system.
“That is due to the excessive migration of lecturers to Europe, America, Asia, and even to some African nations,” he mentioned.
He blamed the scenario on a variety of components, including: “first amongst these is the working atmosphere in lots of universities in Nigeria which has dampened the morale of many lecturers.
“One other issue is poor remuneration, which is abysmally inhuman and disturbing,” Aremu mentioned.
In accordance with him, Nigerian lecturers are the worst paid globally, a improvement, he mentioned, has pushed lecturers in a foreign country in mass proportions.
“Whereas there are others, the 2 above are very essential to the problems of scarcity of lecturers.
“The implications of those are tellingly disturbing on the college system in Nigeria,” Aremu mentioned.
Dr Idris Badiru, Senior Lecturer, Division of Agricultural Extension and Rural Growth, College of Ibadan, mentioned the gravity of the scarcity diversified from one self-discipline to the opposite.
“Every part has to get to Abuja earlier than something is completed and the coping mechanisms are each institutional and particular person.
“On the institutional stage, the workload allotted to the out there tutorial employees has merely elevated; which implies extra obligations for the person employees.
“On the particular person stage, the tutorial will solely do his greatest and go away the remaining.
“If there’s sufficient intrinsic motivation, the tutorial could begin altering his work/life stability to disclaim his household high quality time that is because of them,” Badiru mentioned.
Dr Onatolani Hassan, Lecturer, Division of Enterprise Training, Tai Solarin College of Training (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode, recognized poor welfare and poor working situations as some components chargeable for the menace.
“Most lecturers are touring in a foreign country in pursuit of greener pastures. The salaries haven’t been elevated for a very long time.
“The inflation charge is in double digits, consuming deep into the earnings of lecturers, which had remained static whereas bills are rising every day.
“Lecturers are actually funding their very own analysis; no extra grants from anticipated quarters. There’s a heavy workload on the few lecturers you’ve got on floor.
“The federal government has not employed up to now 10 to fifteen years, whereas professors are retiring.
“There are vacancies however the college administration can’t recruit. There’s heavy workload on the lecturers which can be on floor,” he mentioned.
Hassan referred to as on the federal government to extend funding of tertiary establishments to alleviate the scenario.
Ibrahim Kachala, a lecturer within the Division of Political Science, College of Maiduguri, mentioned that the final eight years of the earlier administration had wreaked havoc on the college system.
Kachala mentioned that authorities insurance policies and nonchalant perspective to public college schooling in Nigeria, had affected the event of tertiary schooling within the nation.
He mentioned this example would worsen in in 2024 when a lot of the professors employed within the 70s would exit the system.
Mr Usman Abdallah, of the division of mass communications mentioned lack of presidency funding had made the college to be unsuitable for studying and analysis.
One other lecturer, Sheriff Bamus, urged non-public organisations to be mandated to utilise the schools for his or her Analysis and Growth (R&D).
“As it’s completed in different climes companies and personal organisations ought to be mandated to make the most of the schools for his or her R&D necessities as a part of their company social obligations.
Dr Adeola Olatunji, Senior Lecturer, Division of Sociology, College of Lagos, says the scarcity of manpower is having unfavourable impression on and educating, analysis, and group service.
This, he mentioned, has made lecturers to be overburdened with courses work as college students inhabitants to continues to climb.
“I, due to this fact, name on the Federal Authorities to elevate the embargo on recruitment for universities to deal with the widening hole,” he mentioned.
In accordance with him, with the availability of an enabling atmosphere by improved remuneration and satisfactory amenities within the nation’s universities, fewer Nigerians will journey out for greener pastures.
Dr Ibrahim Nasir, Senior Lecturer, Division of Political Science, Prince Abubakar Audu College, Ayingba, Kogi, mentioned that universities have been dealing with scarcity of lecturers’ by improvisation.
“To say that there’s a scarcity of lecturers within the Nigerian College is an understatement.
“That is evident within the lecturer to scholar ration in all the schools. Most often you’ve got a ratio of 1 lecturer to over 2,050 college students.
“The primary purpose for this scarcity of lecturers within the college system is often poor remuneration. The take dwelling wage is grossly insufficient in contrast to what’s obtainable globally.
“We improvise by lumping courses collectively the place you should have giant numbers of scholars to show at a time in a category.
“This implies the place you might be alleged to have 4 or 5 lecturers you should have solely a lecturer caring for them“, he mentioned.
In accordance with him, lecturers additionally deploy the grouping system the place they’ve batch A, B and C .
“On this case it’s important to repair further lectures to see how one can end a course define inside a brief attainable time.
“Even at that, it’s important to wrestle and even go into the weekend to see how one can meet up.
“These are a few of the measures we undertake to bridge the hole within the universities. The scarcity of lecturers halls additionally added to our stress,” he mentioned.
NAN