The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Branch, has called for an upward review of the salaries of its members.
The Acting Chairman of the union, Andrew Apeh, made the call during the 2025 ASUU Day celebration held at the university’s main campus, Agbani, Enugu on Friday.
Apeh said that workers deserved salary review aligned with the national benchmark, and the 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage award increments implemented in other state and federal universities.
He said that the salary review was necessary to ensure effective service delivery by the members.
The ASUU chief said that members’ welfare was their fundamental rights, adding that the issue should not be politicised.
He said: “It is time for the members to unite and demand better welfare, working conditions and a future for themselves and their families.
“It pains greatly to see our counterparts in other states and federal universities receiving double of our salary for almost a year now and even waiting for a better review in few days to come.
“Here in ESUT, we are battling with survival because of our paltry salary, which no longer meets the reality of the economic situation at the moment.
“Our Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) is another pressing issue. Since 2008, it has been pending and we can’t wait any longer.
“We urge our government and ESUT management to address this as an urgent call, special plights and mainstream our EAA.”
Apeh affirmed the union’s commitment to building a better nation through quality teaching, research and community service.
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“As academic staff, we must continue to strive for excellence, inspiring our students and contributing to the growth of our nation.
“We must remain united and focused on our welfare purposes,” he said.
Apeh charged members to rise for their rights, saying: “Our spirit of unionism must be re-energised for our good.
“No one can offer what they don’t have. We must be the change we seek.”
He described the theme of the celebration, “Empowering Academics and Enhancing Wellness” as apt and timely.
“Our welfare is not a privilege, it’s a right,” he said.
Also speaking, the ASUU Chairman, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Zubairu Loko, said that the uncompromising spirit of solidarity had been the spirit keeping ASUU alive, unbroken, and unbowed for decades.
Loko said: “Academics in Nigeria live between intellectual excellence and national frustration.
“We teach like philosophers but are paid like apprentices.
“We produce research that transforms nations, yet struggle with facilities that belong to museums.
“The struggle continues. Empowerment is not a slogan – it is a struggle.
“It is what ASUU has defended for over 40 years, often at great personal cost.
“Empowerment means salaries that can survive the month, not disappear like a missed call.
“Research grants that can actually fund research, not only printing of proposals infrastructure that respects our academic dignity.
“Autonomy that protects our universities from political interference and administrative overreach.”
Loko further said that no nation joked with its academics and expects serious development.
“If Nigerian academics were empowered, the country would be transformed.
“But if academics remain overworked, undervalued, overstressed, and underpaid, then we are simply fuelling a crisis, while hoping for a miracle,” he said.
Earlier, the National Resource Person, Raphael Agbo, blamed Nigeria university professors for being docile in the face of oppression and social injustice.
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Agbo, who categorised professors into three groups, said that many of them could not speak truth to power because of politicisation and fear of the unknown.
He said, “ASUU remains the last moral firewall protecting Nigerian universities from total collapse.
“Someone must speak truth to power, even when power pretends to be deaf,” he said.
Highlights of the event included medical checks, panel discussion, recognition and award for retired and deceased members and celebration of members newly promoted to professors
