A new comparative report has revealed that Nigerian university professors earn among the lowest salaries in Africa, taking home less than $400 (₦550,000) monthly — about 13 times lower than what their South African counterparts earn.
According to BusinessDay, the widening salary disparity is fuelling a severe brain drain within Nigeria’s university system, as poor remuneration, economic hardship, and inadequate research funding continue to drive experienced academics out of the country.
The analysis, which draws from Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) salary summaries and regional university data, shows that while professors in South Africa earn around $4,800 monthly, those in Uganda ($1,166), Kenya ($1,316), and Ghana ($720) also take home significantly higher pay than Nigerian professors. Even academics in smaller economies like Lesotho ($834) and Seychelles ($1,538) earn more.
On an annual scale, the report notes that a South African professor earns about $58,000, compared to the Nigerian average of $4,400, underscoring what experts describe as a “deep gulf” in academic compensation across the continent.
Dr. Olujimi Dada, ASUU Chairperson at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), described the situation as “unsustainable and demoralising.” He lamented that Nigeria, which once attracted scholars from around the world, has now become unattractive due to poor pay and deteriorating working conditions.
> “There was a time when our universities were filled with expatriates. That can no longer be said now. Today, a Nigerian professor earns less than $500, while others earn in excess of $2,000,” Dada told BusinessDay.
ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, also reiterated the union’s long-standing demands for a review of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, improved funding, and settlement of salary arrears. He warned that unless urgent steps are taken, the worsening conditions may lead to renewed industrial action.
Experts have warned that without a comprehensive policy response, Nigeria risks an intellectual collapse, as more qualified academics leave the country and fewer graduates choose careers in academia.
> “We train the nation’s professionals, yet we earn far less than those we train. The system must be restructured to reflect fairness and sustainability,” one professor told BusinessDay.
The report concludes that unless the federal government acts swiftly to address the crisis, Nigeria’s universities could face an irreversible decline in both quality and competitiveness.
Source: BusinessDay (www.businessday.ng)
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