239 Top First-Class Lecturers Quit UNILAG Over Poor Pay,Poor Conditions — Ex-VC

A troubling exodus of highly qualified lecturers is unfolding at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), with 239 first-class graduates resigning within seven years, primarily due to poor remuneration and deteriorating working conditions. This alarming trend was revealed on Tuesday by Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, during a guest lecture at The PUNCH Forum themed “Innovative Funding of Functional Education in the Digital Age.”

Prof. Ogundipe disclosed that between 2015 and 2022, UNILAG employed 256 first-class graduates as lecturers. However, by October 2023, only 17 of these top academics remained. The mass departure stemmed from low salaries, unconducive work environments, and a general lack of motivation among lecturers. “At UNILAG, we resolved to employ only those with first-class honours. Now, less than 10 per cent remain. The rest have left,” Ogundipe lamented.

According to the former VC, the university recruited 86 first-class graduates in 2015, 82 in 2016, and 88 during his tenure from 2017 to 2022, but these numbers drastically dwindled as many lecturers sought better opportunities outside the institution, and often abroad.

Ogundipe warned that if the current situation persists, Nigerian universities may soon be dominated by female staff, reflecting a gender shift similar to that seen in secondary schools. He also cautioned that postgraduate programmes risk admitting inadequately prepared candidates if standards continue to decline.

The root cause of these issues, Ogundipe argued, was chronic underfunding of the education sector. Despite headline increases, federal allocations to education have lingered between 4.5 and 7.5 per cent of the national budget—far below UNESCO’s recommended 15 to 26 per cent. This shortfall has crippled infrastructure development, research, and lecturer welfare.

The ex-VC urged that innovative funding strategies must complement government budgets to revive higher education. Among such strategies are public-private partnerships, alumni endowments, philanthropy, education bonds, leveraging digital platforms, and Nigerian diaspora investments.

Calling on the private sector to take ownership beyond social responsibility, he stressed the importance of investing in education as a foundation for workforce development. He also appealed to alumni, civil society, faith-based organizations, and donor agencies to support the sector actively.

Ogundipe highlighted the consequences of educational neglect: “Many of our young lecturers are discouraged, especially with daily challenges like power outages at home. The Federal Government’s offer of ₦10 million loans to lecturers cannot even cover basic security needs, reflecting how devalued their lives and work have become.”

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To address infrastructure decay, he called on legislators to enact laws mandating substantial annual funding for first-generation universities, suggesting a minimum of ₦1 billion per institution to upgrade facilities and foster innovation.

Reflecting on the broader challenges, he noted Nigeria’s alarming number of out-of-school children—estimated between 10 and 22 million—stemming from fiscal constraints and policy failures. Highlighting that over 60 per cent of primary education funding currently goes to teacher salaries, often leaving inadequate resources for capital projects.

Professor Ogundipe concluded with a call to action: education must be regarded as a sacred trust to pass on to future generations. He urged all Nigerians to leave lasting legacies through contributions to school infrastructure, scholarships, and educational advancement.

The forum also featured top officials from PUNCH management and other stakeholders committed to pushing education funding reforms in Nigeria.