The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has attributed the significant shortage of staff in Nigerian universities to the “Japa Syndrome.” This is because thousands of lecturers have left the country to seek better opportunities abroad. According to The Punch, the Union revealed that there is currently a high number of retirements in Nigerian varsities.
The ASUU at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, said that about 100 lecturers had left the institution. Similarly, the union at Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara, disclosed that the university needed about 1,000 lecturers to fill the vacancies created by those who had left.
The union at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State stated that over 350 academic vacancies existed at the institution. Furthermore, 27 lecturers had left two faculties at the University of Lagos, and 100 workers at the University of Uyo had left the country. The union also revealed that about 500 academic vacancies existed at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, while both academic and non-academic staff of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology were leaving the country.
Dr. Rotimi Olorunsola, Chairman of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State, disclosed that many of the institution’s staff, both academic and non-academic, had left the university. Similarly, the Head of Media and Protocol at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Mr Victor Akinpelumi, confirmed that many workers of the institution had left.
Dr. Ray Chikogu, Chairman of ASUU at the University of Benin, said that the shortage of staff in UNIBEN and other universities had been a long-standing problem due to the Federal Government’s employment embargo. He added that this constituted undue interference by the government in the running of the universities. Chikogu further stated that the recruitment and promotion of staff were severely affected.
Dr. Shehu El-rasheed, Chairman of ASUU at the Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, said that there were many vacancies in the university due to bureaucratic bottlenecks. He added that senior professors were retiring without replacements, while academic staff were leaving in droves to countries such as Malaysia, Oman, New Zealand, and the US.
El-Rasheed attributed the inadequate academic staff in FUK to inadequate funding by the Federal Government, bureaucratic bottlenecks brought by IPPIS, poor remuneration, and harsh economic conditions. IPPIS was introduced a few years ago by the Federal Government as part of measures to solve the problem of ghost workers and civil servants who earned multiple salaries. However, many workers in universities are reportedly uncomfortable with the initiative as it does not allow institutions to hire workers even when they are highly understaffed.The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has blamed the severe shortage of staff in Universities in Nigeria on ‘Japa syndrome’ as thousands of lecturers have left the country in search of greener pastures in foreign lands.
In an interview with The Punch, the Union said there is currently a high number of retirements at the varsities in Nigeria.
ASUU at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, said about 100 lecturers had left the university, while the union at the Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara, disclosed that the institution was in need of about 1,000 lecturers to fill the vacancies created by those who had left.
The union at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State said over 350 academic vacancies were available at the institution, while 27 lecturers had left two faculties at the University of Lagos, as 100 workers at the University of Uyo travelled out of the country.
The union disclosed that about 500 academic vacancies existed at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, while both academic and non-academic staff of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology were leaving the country.
The Chairman, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State, Dr. Rotimi Olorunsola, said many of the staff of the institution, both academic and non-academic, had left the university.
Olorunsola said, “Yes, some have japa (travelled out of the country), both the academic staff and non-academic.”
The Head of the Media and Protocol, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Mr Victor Akinpelumi, confirmed that many workers of the institution had moved out of the institution.
“It is true many workers, both academic and non-academic, have left the university, but as I am now, I can’t give a specific number. I can confirm that many workers of the university have gone,” he stated.
The Chairman of ASUU, University of Benin, Dr Ray Chikogu, said the shortage of staff in UNIBEN and other universities had been a problem that existed for a long time due to the embargo on employment by the Federal Government.
He said this constituted undue interference by the government in the running of the universities, especially as it affected the recruitment and promotion of staff.
He said, “The teaching staff department is grossly understaffed. For a very long time, academic staff have been overburdened with work in the University of Benin and many other universities in the country.
“It has been a problem for a number of years now because of the embargo on employment in federal universities and the process of recruitment of staff is a very cumbersome one. The university has to obtain permission from the head of service through the accountant-general’s office.
“This is interference by the Federal Government on the internal affairs of the school. What should have been handled by university senates and councils has now been centralised to the point that everything has been muddled up in the university system. It is a very sad situation.
“Many are retiring and they are not being replaced and due to the unfavourable condition much academic staff work under, they have left their jobs and travelled abroad to seek greener pastures, adding to the big problem of brain drain, which is taking its toll on the university system and nothing is being done about it. It appears that the Federal Government is deliberately suffocating the system for reasons best known to them.”
The ASUU Chairman at the Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, Dr Shehu El-rasheed, said a lot of vacancies existed in the varsity due to bureaucratic bottlenecks.
He said, “A lot of vacancies exist but filling the vacancies has become very difficult due to the tough bureaucratic bottlenecks. A vice-chancellor needs to get clearance from about seven Federal Government agencies and parastatals before a single staffer is recruited.
“Senior professors are retiring and no replacement. In FUK, academic staff are leaving in numbers to countries such Malaysia, Oman, New Zealand, and the US.”
El-Rasheed noted that inadequate academic staff in FUK could be associated with inadequate funding, “by the Federal Government and bureaucratic bottlenecks brought by IPPIS; poor remuneration and harsh economic conditions.”
IPP was introduced by the Federal Government a few years ago as part of measures to solve the problem of ghost workers and civil servants who earned multiple salaries.
However, a lot of workers in universities are reportedly not comfortable with the initiative, as it does not enable the institutions to employ workers even when such universities are highly understaffed.