Wage disparities are causing unrest in Nigerian college campuses, potentially prompting non-academic staff to strike. Sen. Shehu Sani, a well-known political commentator and former legislator, cautioned about an impending disaster on his verified Twitter account. In a recent tweet, Sani highlighted a significant disparity in government payouts. While professors received their salaries, many university employees, including non-academic staff, went unpaid. This inequity has caused considerable dissatisfaction among the unpaid workers, leading them to threaten a strike if their grievances are not addressed by tomorrow.
The tweet stated: "Professors at universities received payment. University employees and personnel were not compensated. A strike could be initiated tomorrow, according to their threats. Notified the minister. Let the FG prevent this. The constant strikes have made most recent graduates appear older than they actually are.
This situation underscores a long-standing issue in Nigeria's education system: the frequent strikes that prolong students' university tenure and disrupt academic schedules. Strikes by both academic and non-academic staff have been a recurring problem for years, often stemming from disputes over salaries, benefits, and working conditions. Sani's comments on the impact of these strikes on students are quite poignant. He lamented that due to the constant academic disruptions and prolonged time spent in universities caused by the strikes, many recent graduates appear older than their actual age.
To prevent the strike, urgent action has been urged upon the federal government, specifically the Minister of Education. With the deadline approaching rapidly, the government's response will decide whether institutions face disruption once more.