The Coalition for Peaceful Coexistence (CPC) draws urgent attention to the alarming state of remuneration for civil servants, particularly academics. This issue is not hypothetical, it was recently confirmed by a respected Nigerian professor whose testimony highlights the stark realities facing our universities and research institutions.
According to his account:
A Professor at CONUASS 07 Step 06 earns slightly above ₦500,000 per month after tax.
The highest-paid Professor (Step 10) receives approximately ₦600,000, which is less than $300 USD at current exchange rates.
A Civil Service Director earns a comparable amount, insufficient for basic living standards. Even saving an entire year’s salary would not allow the purchase of a Toyota Camry in Nigeria, a situation both disheartening and degrading to public service dignity.
Professors remain at this stagnant pay scale until retirement at 70, with no substantial increments.
The implications are deeply concerning:
Nigerian academics earn less than graduate assistants abroad, highlighting the magnitude of the brain drain affecting our institutions.
Universities perform poorly in global rankings, while research output remains weak and largely self-funded.
Lecturer and civil servant morale is low, jeopardizing productivity and innovation.
The nation continues to lose its most talented minds to countries that respect and reward intellectual contributions.
Peace and stability in any society are rooted in justice and fairness. When educators and civil servants, the architects of future leaders, engineers, doctors, and administrators, are underpaid, the quality of public service and academic output inevitably suffers.
We call for immediate reforms, including:
1. A comprehensive review of salaries for academics and civil servants, aligned with international standards.
2. Introduction of research, housing, and welfare allowances, following global best practices.
3. Structured salary reviews every three years, indexed to inflation and foreign exchange rates.
4. Policies to reverse brain drain, making Nigerian academia and civil service attractive and competitive.
The Coalition for Peaceful Coexistence emphasizes that lasting peace cannot thrive on injustice. A nation that undervalues its teachers and civil servants sows seeds of instability. Immediate action is essential.
Respectfully,
Dickson
President, Coalition for Peaceful Coexistence (CPC)
