The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, on
Tuesday said the government could only afford 23.5 percent salary increase for
lecturers, while a 35% increment will be enjoyed by professors.
The minister also noted that President Muhammadu
Buhari warned against signing agreements which the government will not be able
to meet.
Adamu disclosed this while speaking during
the meeting with vice-chancellors and other stakeholders in the university
system..
He said, "The Federal Government can only
afford a 23.5% salary increase for all category of the workforce in Federal
Universities, except for the professorial cadre which will enjoy a 35% upward
review.
“Henceforth, allowances that pertain to ad-hoc duties of the academic and non-academic staff shall be paid as at when due by the Governing Councils of Universities to which such services are rendered and to the staff who perform them.
“That a sum of 150 billion Naira shall be provided for in the 2023 Budget as funds for the revitalization of Federal Universities, to be disbursed to the Institutions in the First Quarter of the year, and that a sum of 50 billion Naira shall be provided for in the 2023 Budget for the payment of outstanding areas of earned academic allowances, to be paid in the First Quarter of the year”.
Speaking at the end of the meeting, the
pro-chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, Professor Peter
Okebukola, noted that the government was ready to go all out to ensure that the
university lecturers return back to school.