Abuja: The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has called on the Federal Government to review lecturers’ salaries to align with Nigeria’s current economic realities. Prof. Niyi Sunmonu, President of CONUA, made this appeal while reacting to the Federal Government’s release of N50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances for university staff.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Sunmonu emphasized the necessity of a salary review due to the high cost of living influenced by rising inflation. He highlighted that the improvement of salaries is more critical than any academic allowance to address the inflationary pressures in the country. Sunmonu expressed concerns over the exclusion of CONUA from the renegotiation table in October 2024, which he believed was a discriminatory act. He criticized the approach of the sister union, arguing that their negotiation stance was leading lecturers into poverty.
Sunmonu recalled that in 2009, a proposal for a minimum salary of N1 million, specifically N1.2 million, for professors was rejected by the sister union, which he was a part of at the time. This rejection, he argued, was due to the claim that the proposal was not a product of negotiation. Sunmonu believes that such actions have led to unfavorable financial conditions for lecturers, prompting their protest.
Despite these challenges, Sunmonu commended the Federal Government for releasing the N50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances to university staff. He also highlighted issues with the Re-negotiation Committee of the 2009 agreement, stating that CONUA had not been adequately involved in the negotiation process. The last meeting CONUA attended by invitation was on December 20, 2024, and since then, no further invitations have been extended.
Sunmonu pointed out that on April 5, 2025, it was reported that Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and his committee had submitted their report. In response, CONUA protested publicly and communicated directly with the Minister of Education, warning that concluding negotiations without their input could disrupt the peace currently experienced in universities. Sunmonu asserted that no union could represent their interests better than CONUA itself, emphasizing the importance of their involvement in negotiations. He also urged the government to ensure an equitable sharing formula among all unions.