‘The passion for the profession is dying,’ say lecturers

The economic crisis in Nigeria has been taking its toll on lecturers and many are considering taking other full-time jobs.

Inflation and the rising cost of living became a serious challenge for Nigeria’s citizens immediately after the newly elected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared in his inaugural speech on 29 May 2023 that the “[fuel] subsidy is gone”. Fast forward to December 2024 and a litre of fuel costs between NGN1,040 (US$0.67) and NGN1,120 (US$0.72) depending on selling stations – a massive increase from the price of NGN145 in 2023 before the subsidy’s removal.

With 70% of academics earning salaries ranging from about US$66 to US$121, taking care of their families, buying food and fuel for daily transportation to and from work and medical expenses have become unaffordable.

Yahya Ahmad, an academic at the University of Ilorin, said: “Some of us even opted for loans from online [loan] sharks just to cater for our daily affairs and stay alive. Others, who have had serious health conditions and couldn't afford medical bills, died.”

It was in this context earlier this year that 30 PhD holders resigned from Bauchi State University over poor salaries and conditions of service, according to the university’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), reported Punch.

What lecturers do to save money

Higher education institutions have also had to cut back on services because their operational costs have risen sharply, but academics have tried to continue supporting students – with many at risk of dropping out.

Femi Atoyebi, the spokesperson at Ajayi Crowther University, said everything has increased including diesel. “We have reverted to using solar to power the school because it is our responsibility to cater for the students.”

At Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto the management has pleaded with transport providers and copy shops to pity the students and cut prices.

Demoralised academics

Dr Ibrahim Abubakar, a lecturer at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, is demoralised. “It has not been easy because there are so many necessary shelter needs [essential expenses such as education, electricity, water and rent expenses] to attend to which I have to neglect presently due to the economic situation of the country. We are not happy at all and many of us [lecturers] are tired of this job,” Abubakar said.

Wale Akinola, a lecturer who is currently pursuing his PhD at Bayero University Kano, said that a lot of his colleagues who are known to be diligent and hardworking are losing interest and thinking of leaving the lecturing job for greener pastures elsewhere, stating that the burden that comes with doing a PhD, as the economy bites harder, is excruciating.

“Let me tell you the fact that, now, most of us are considering better opportunities. If I see a good paying job, I will leave lecturing. This is the thought most of us are nurturing. The motivation and passion for the profession are dying inside us daily,” he said.

What should be done?

Jide Ojo, an education expert and social commentator, said academics are facing existential survival challenges because they are not immune to the rising cost of living which affects all sectors of the country.

Ojo noted that the situation, alongside poor salaries, has compelled lecturers to work long hours because Nigerian universities are grossly understaffed and lack enabling environments and working conditions for research and teaching.

“The situation is worrisome and it has negatively impacted the quality of academic excellence in the university. Lecturers are frustrated. We can now see many lecturers are going into farming because of survival.

“Some are into full-time private businesses while others use their personal cars to perform car hire services as side hustles.

“There are some who are into part-time lecturing jobs in private universities, at the expense of their original place of primary assignment. It has reduced the commitment of lecturers to their jobs,” Ojo told University World News, explaining that the brain drain, depletion of academic excellence and immoral behaviour of lecturers, such as asking affluent students for support of any kind, are some of the negative impacts of the situation.

“No country survives without quality human capital. And the training is now through higher education institutions. Situations where students are not well trained are impacting negatively on human capital and graduates that are not employable will be produced. This is not good for the country at all,” Ojo said.