”Lecturers now think more about survival than research work” — ASUU Chair

The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bayero University Kano (BUK) Chapter, Professor Ibrahim Tajo Siraj, has decried the worsening economic situation in Nigeria, saying it has crippled the productivity and well-being of university lecturers across the country.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with SolaceBase TV, Professor Siraj said that although lecturers are capable of using their knowledge to create alternative sources of income beyond teaching, the harsh economic reality and Nigeria’s poor attitude toward education have made such efforts almost impossible.

He noted that the rising cost of living, coupled with the removal of fuel subsidy and the depreciation of the naira, has placed unbearable pressure on academic staff, most of whom now struggle to meet basic needs.

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“Many lecturers now think more about what to eat than about their academic responsibilities. That’s the painful reality, and it’s affecting our productivity. Research requires time, comfort, necessary materials, and funds, but we don’t have any of these,” he lamented.

The ASUU chairman was reacting to the viral video of Professor Balarabe Abdullahi of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who recently shared the struggles of university lecturers amid the country’s economic crisis, including their inability to feed their families or send their children to good schools.

Siraj echoed these concerns, stating that the crisis has reached an unprecedented level. “The salary barely lasts two weeks for some of us. So how can we publish books or carry out meaningful research?” he questioned.

He blamed successive governments, especially since the military era, for neglecting the academic community.

“We’ve been calling on the government to take care of university lecturers. This is a special job. We teach, research, and offer community service. But how can we do all that when we are worried about survival?”

Professor Siraj added that science-based research, in particular, requires consistent power supply, special equipment, and uninterrupted working periods, all of which are lacking in Nigerian universities.

“Some experiments demand three to seven consecutive days of serious work. But where is the electricity? Universities can’t afford it. We’re only offered power for a few hours, and even other basic tools are unavailable,” he said.

On research by undergraduate and postgraduate students, he stressed that for any academic work to impact society, it must be translated into products, especially in science fields—a process that requires substantial funding.

“From conducting the research to turning it into a useful product, everything requires money, infrastructure, and comfort, which we don’t have.”

He argued that if the government invested in education and supported academics adequately, Nigeria would witness transformative ideas and innovations.

“Imagine if lecturers had a month-long holiday after working for 11 months, and they could travel abroad to refresh their minds without worry. The impact would be remarkable.”

Siraj also criticised the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, saying instead of solving the problem, it told lecturers to find other means of survival, failing to understand the consequences of such advice on academic performance.

He called on the current administration to take urgent steps to address the welfare of lecturers to boost productivity and national development.

“Despite the difficulties, we’ve still managed to contribute meaningfully. Just imagine what we could achieve if we were given the support we truly need,” he added.