₦airaland Forum

The government should pay lecturers salaries withheld for 4 to 8 months because they are asking government to own and be seen to own the universities. My brother told me ASUU is asking government to fund the schools so all Nigerians can benefit. It's pathetic that no one is talking about this.

They should pay lecturers salaried and fund education in the country. This is quote important. An ignorant population is bad for any country. Worse than Boko Haram that they have not been able to untechnically defeat after they defeated then technically. Hehehe

My brother is hungry. Do you care that lecturers have not been oaudcfir 3 months and some 6 months?

good.

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/10/08/why-ASUU-strike-does-not-move-anyone-but-nasu-ssanu-strike-does/

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/10/08/why-ASUU-strike-does-not-move-anyone-but-nasu-ssanu-strike-does/

Yours sincerely was discussing with a teacher today and the person said that University lecturers strike is usually not as strong as the strike embarked upon by non-academic staff members of universities (NASU and SSANU in this case). The person said when ASUU is on strike school still runs while the strike by SSANU and NASU is usually militant and paralyses the university.

The person also said the non-academic unions will lock the gate of the universities and even important offices during their strikes but ASUU don’t lock gates physically (do they do it spiritually?). The non-academic unions strikers used to even beat up anyone who tries to break their strike or do anything sinister against it, But ASUU strike is peaceful.

The person also says ASUU goes on strike on empty stomach but the other unions are “wiser” and ensure they get their pay before the strike. The person also says the masses shout “ASUU oooo” when ASUU goes on strike but when the other unions go on strike no one talks about it! Someone said lectures can still go on when non-teaching staff alone go on strike but when ASUU goes on strike lectures can’t go on (sic!).

Another close pal of mine also said the non-teaching staff members drive better cars and dress better than ASUU members. Another person said lecturers take home is small because they spend personal funds to attend conferences and publish papers but non-teaching staff don’t do such things.

Hose all these imply that ASUU strike des not move anyone? Can lectures hold without lecturers? What can students do without lecturers? Anyway, I don’t know much.

Napoleon Hill wrote in his book that “when the pupil is ready the teacher will appear”

The close pals went on and on to talk about strikes and the unions. We at thenewkokoro.com agree with some and disagree with some of the expressed views.

Drop your comments below on the subject discussed.

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/10/08/why-ASUU-strike-does-not-move-anyone-but-nasu-ssanu-strike-does/

jamace:
Has this investment gone comatose?

E be like so.

A scam propagated by pastor and affecting gullible worshippers based on trust. So so sad how gullible people can be. A d the scam continues even today. Do you know I registered around 2009 to 2010? The love of money is truly the root of all evil.

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/10/04/need-to-divest-sadomasochist-sentiments-from-asuus-struggle-for-self-detemination/

THE NEED TO DIVEST SADOMASOCHIST SENTIMENTS FROM ASUU’S STRUGGLE FOR SELF DETEMINATION (By C. C. NNAJI)*

I want to broach a very controversial subject in this short piece. So I would plead that you digest the message and not devour the messenger. Academics the world over (but especially in Nigeria) are plagued with the incurable illusion that it is their responsibility to restore sanity to a morally bankrupt system. They seem to erroneously believe that by wrestling the government to a standstill, they will be heaped with encomium from the masses. They are willing to forfeit their salaries just to score a point about their patriotism. _Patriotisms_ – there is no question about that, but why has ASUU become accustomed to bruising herself only to brag about it to insensitive people who don’t give a damn? Everyone knows the history of ASUU’s protracted imbroglio with a succession of insensitive and callous governments and their foot soldiers. Litany of negotiated and re-negotiated (even re-re-negotiated) agreements has been signed between ASUU and government representatives who did not have the slightest intention of keeping their words. Somehow, they have mastered the art of tricking the hapless and hunger-stricken lecturers back to their rusty classrooms and shabby laboratories with high expectations which are soon dashed.

*ASUU’S ENDANGERED PUBLIC IMAGE*
Many Nigerians and even students have no inkling what ASUU is fighting for. The government, aided by her plethora of Machiavellian propaganda machineries, has succeeded in pitching the public against ASUU. Government officials have painted ASUU as a recalcitrant and utterly selfish pressure group who down tools at the slightest provocation. They have succeeded in etching ASUU as a persona non grata in the consciousness of the populace, so that the mention of ASUU brings out the worst in them. No wonder ASUU is fast losing public sympathy and cooperation. The die is cast and the public have taken sides with an oppressive government, against ASUU’s noble cause. I have even heard people muse that lecturers do very little work and should be replaced with young graduates should they embark on “ _unnecessary_ ” strike. However, everyone who is familiar with ASUU’s age-long struggle knows that it is a struggle for the survival of the Nigerian battered educational system. Every other labour union embarks of strike to earn better wages – it is only ASUU that goes on strike for increased budgetary allocation to education, autonomy of universities (to preserve the sanctity of our universities and mitigate the notorious influence of political jobbers), better infrastructure (including upgrade of students’ hostels and learning facilities) and the list goes on. Being appointed head of department in some universities is regarded as a curse because you will sustain the department from your lean income or be regarded as a failure. Lecturers sometimes contribute money to provide basic necessities during accreditation, just to give the department a facelift and avert de-accreditation; and also keep the students in school.

*TIME FOR CHANGE OF STRATEGY*
What is the wisdom in fighting for increased funding of education when allocations meant for educational institutions usually disappear into the pockets of government officials, and whatever trickles down to the university is then (mis)appropriated by whoever is presiding, depending on his moral disposition? The lot of the ordinary lecturer is by no means bettered by increased funding to education. Candidly, I do not believe that it is the duty of ASUU to force government to up her allocation to education. Rather, I believe that the matter of increased funding should be the concern and agitation of every well-meaning Nigerian – students, parents and non-governmental organizations. But sadly, this herculean task has been left for ASUU alone, and the government has exploited the ignorance of the masses to her advantage. What has the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) been doing if not to parley with the government to the detriment of the collective cause of Nigerian students? Being elected into the students’ union government of any higher institution is now seen by many students as the gateway to financial freedom or as a launch pad for their future political ambitions. I think it is high time ASUU made students and parents to share the responsibility of engaging the government for increased budgetary allocation to education and infrastructural development. Instead of engaging a disinterested government in an endless and vicious cycle of disputes over issues that should concern every citizen, ASUU should simply do the following (i) develop a documentary of the state of education in Nigeria and release it into the public domain for people to judge for themselves; (ii) publish the names of the children of government officials who are schooling abroad vis a vis their legitimate financial capacity to afford such luxury (iii) partner with NGOs to sponsor a bill that will prohibit public servants and elected officials from sending their children abroad for study; (iv) embark on strike less frequently and only for improved pay package.

*ON IMPROVED PAY PACKAGE*
I say “improved pay package” because lecturers are grossly under-remunerated for their job of nation-building. Any serious nation would pay unstinting attention to the place where future leaders are moulded. A country where fathers misappropriate their children’s school fees is utterly hopeless. _A nation that thinks that her university lecturers and professors must be humbled with the scourge of poverty must have got her brain on her feet._ While I do not suggest that lecturers should be enriched by payment of bogus salaries, I believe that they can be given a decent package (and I propose and African average) for their role in knowledge transfer and human capacity development. How can a brilliant young man who has spent about twenty years or more of the prime of his life to mould other people’s children, reach the peak of his career (professorship) midlife, only to discover that his salary is not up to that of his student who was just got employed in the Central Bank or an oil company or even some federal parastatals that do next to nothing? Some have been made to believe that lecturers do not even deserve their current peanut of a pay package. But the students know that some lecturers work round the clock. They carry their works home and travel with the job, and yet “they don’t’ deserve a better pay package”! I remember when I was just employed as a young lecturer and was assigned a Faculty course of 700 students, in addition to some other departmental courses. I had to teach this course alone for lack of manpower, conduct a one-on-one assessment of the course for every single one of them, grade the scripts alone and publish the results without any help. This amounts to a staff to students ratio of 1:700 and what was my salary? I earned less than an interstate commercial driver. How can you entrust an brilliant and ambitious young man with such huge burden of responsibility and pay him peanuts for salary? *You gleefully pay him peanuts to shape the destiny of your children!* Isn’t it a big fat shame how we de(value) our nation-builders?
My question then is “why should ASUU jettison my welfare and go head on with the government on funding of universities”? With all the rigorous hurdles one has to cross in the university system to become a professor, why should he earn an amount that can barely take him home? And now that government has resorted to the Ill-motivated Poverty Perpetration and Instigation System (IPPIS) for payment of salaries, the pie has finally crumbled for lecturers.
I strongly urge for a change of the objectives as well as the materials and methods of this study (apologies – I meant struggle) on “strategies for better pay package for lecturers”. We cannot keep doing the same thing over and again, and somehow hope to get better results. ASUU has come a long way and has exerted sufficient amount of energy in engaging the government. It is now time to move on and let the owners of the struggle take over from where we stopped.

*I suspend my case!*

Engr. Dr. C. C. Nnaji
(Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka)

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/10/04/need-to-divest-sadomasochist-sentiments-from-asuus-struggle-for-self-detemination/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oneqzThdLB8

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oneqzThdLB8

FFK need not respond after the video. Move on...

Good one.

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/10/02/all-schools-in-nigeria-to-open-immediately-according-to-the-education-minister/

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/10/02/all-schools-in-nigeria-to-open-immediately-according-to-the-education-minister/

Mallam Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education in Nigeria has announced the reopening of all schools in the country by October 5, October 12 and as it applies depending on the nature of the school and its management. All schools here, implies primary, secondary and higher institutions. The Education minister announced this today Friday the 2nd day of October, 2020 during a press briefing.

By this announcement the yearning of parents and other stakeholders in the educational sector has been addressed.

Some states have earlier announced varied school opening dates with Lagos State taking the lead in announcing school reopening. The Minister asked the school authorities to put measures in place to tackle the covid-19 as stipulated by the NCDC.

With the ASUU strike still on and University lecturers owed months of unpaid salaries its not clear whether University students will resume classes immediately.

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/10/02/all-schools-in-nigeria-to-open-immediately-according-to-the-education-minister/

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/30/can-breast-sucking-prevent-breast-cancer/

According to the World Health Organization [WHO], breast cancer growth accounts for 10.4% of diseases among women. This makes it the second most regular kind of non-skin disease (after cellular breakdown in the lungs) and the fifth most normal causes of death in the world. In 2004, breast cancer growth caused 519,000 deaths globally. Breast cancer growth alludes to tumors starting from breast tissue, most normally from the inward coating of milk conduits or the glands that produces milk.


The myth of breast sucking helping to prevent breast cancer has gone a long way in confusing the public. A British Broadcasting Corporation [BBC] report had it that breast sucking prevents breast cancer in women. But this report has not been scientifically proven. Unfortunately, so many women and young ladies has accepted and strongly believed the myth. As a result, such wrong medical belief has enslaved so many ladies to submit their breasts willingly to some men who are eager and anxious to take advantage of them to suck it all in the name of breast cancer prevention. It is high time women and ladies in our society knew the truth and be free from the shackles of myth and traps of men.


Breast cancer cells are shaped from typical cells because of an alteration/change of DNA and/or RNA. These alterations/changes can happen precipitously or they might be incited by different factors. For example, atomic radiation, electromagnetic radiation (microwaves, X-beams/rays, Gamma-beams/rays, Bright beams, etcetera), infections, microorganisms and organisms, parasites (because of tissue aggravation/bothering, heat, synthetics noticeable all around, water and food, mechanical cell-level injury, free revolutionaries, evolution and maturing of DNA and RNA, and so on. All these can cause transformations that may lead to breast cancer. Breast cancer growth can be called subsequently “Entropic Sickness” since it is related with the expansion of entropy of the living being to where the creature can’t right this itself. Therefore, immediate attention is needed to permit the living being to re-visitation of a stable entropic state
Can breast sucking help to prevent or cure cancer?
In an interview with premium times newspaper, Ms Onyedinma, who works at a Lagos-based hospital, Samaria Hospital, said: “There is not any scientifically proven that breast sucking, handling and squeezing helps cure or prevent cancer.


“Breast sucking, squeezing and handling is typically done during sexual activity and should provide some sexual excitement for the couple.”


Also as reported in premium times newspaper, Nketim, a Consultant Oncologist with the University College Hospital [UCH], Ibadan, said there was no scientific evidence that sucking, squeezing or handling breasts could prevent lumps or cancer.


Husbands literally discovered lumps in their wives’ breasts and not the wives themselves. This lends support to husbands handling the breasts to assist their wives detect early any lump which may develop. But no scientific evidence exists to mention that handling can actually prevent cancer. From the above, it is important to state categorically that breast sucking may not help to prevent or cure breast cancer but enhances pleasure during sexual intercourse.


Breastfeeding is different from breast sucking. While Breastfeeding is for babies, breast sucking is for men.
Empirical Research have it that breastfeeding, coupled with proper diet and regular exercise can potentially ameliorate adverse late effects of cancer treatment”
Not only that, a study by Yale University researchers showed that women who breastfed for two years or longer reduced their risk of breast cancer by 50 percent.


From the aforementioned, it is pretty obvious that there are no scientifically proven studies indicating that breast sucking is of any medical benefit to women or young ladies.


https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/30/can-breast-sucking-prevent-breast-cancer/

PRESS RELEASE

The attention of our Union has been drawn to the comments of the Minister of Labour and Employment (MoL&E), Dr. Chris Ngige on a Channels Television programme (Politics Today) aired on September 29, 2020. The Minister informed the public that a meeting has been scheduled next week (after independent celebration) for our Union to demonstrate the efficacy of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) software developed by our Union to the stakeholders at the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Minister of Labour and Employment to watch as arbiter. The general public should please note that our Union, over a month ago, had written the MoL&E of our readiness to demonstrate the efficacy and superiority of UTAS over IPPIS and that as at the time of this press release no acknowledgement of receipt of our letter or letter of invitation for meeting has been received by our Union. The Minister also misinformed the public by narrowing down the issues in contention to our rejection of Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) which UTAS seeks to replace. Other issues in contention for which our Union is currently on total, comprehensive and indefinite strike include failure of government to fully implement the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement and February 2019 Memorandum of Action with timelines for release of funds for the revitalization of dilapidated infrastructure in public Universities, payment of outstanding Earned Academic Allowances, conclusion of the renegotiation of 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, setting up of Visitation Panels to Federal Universities and proliferation of State Universities. Dr. Chris Ngige was also economical with the truth by misinforming the public that government has been paying the salaries of members of our Union to date. The correct position is that government only paid our salaries up to June 2020. As of today our members are been owed three (3) months salaries while in some Universities our members have not received salary for six (6) month. In addition, government through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation have criminally withheld five months (February-June, 2020) Check-Off deducted from our members salaries. We are therefore surprised that MoL&E could go on air to present information which he has not verified as truth to the unsuspecting public. The ongoing total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action by our Union will continue if this propaganda and lies against ASUU persists.
The general public and well-meaning Nigerians should prevail on government to do the needful in ending the current strike action.

Thank you.

Prof. Olusiji Sowande
Zonal Coordinator, Lagos Zone
September 30, 2020

Good. See my signature. I motivate.

Solution is for us to get alternative cheaper power supply handled by private hands. That's when eye of NERC will be clear. Before then, the masses are at their mercy. See my signature. I motivate.

Is she 59?

happy birthday to her.

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/29/fem-by-davido-an-insight-into-the-life-of-a-poor-boy/

Can you imagine. Success has many fathers.

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/29/fem-by-davido-an-insight-into-the-life-of-a-poor-boy/

Things are happening indoors but are not known outdoors.

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/29/fem-by-davido-an-insight-into-the-life-of-a-poor-boy/

Great debate.


https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/29/fem-by-davido-an-insight-into-the-life-of-a-poor-boy/

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/29/fem-by-davido-an-insight-into-the-life-of-a-poor-boy/

Why dem kan dey para, para, para? Para for me, why everybody kan dey para for me? Why them kan dey para para para for me? I had thought I was the only one who do feel pain when people just decided to point fingers at me even when it seems obvious that I had done nothing but to improve myself. Well, having listened to Davido’s latest song titled FEM, I no longer have to worry like before again.

The other day I had admired a young little girl speaking in phonics and I approached her like a gentle baby fish in need of food. For days I became her friend and always do appreciate her accent and speech. she was kind enough to put me through on how she trained herself.



But weeks after, I kept wondering why everybody kan dey para for me? My humble self in class was always reserved except when I do feel an urge to talk or do feel unsettled when there is an intellectual discourse. The other day I had barely finished talking when I had a thousand angry voices behind me. It was that moment I discovered that I was just but a little sheep in the midst of bees. It wasn’t because my answer wasn’t correct but my intelligent mates were just not happy that I had improved on my speech. why?



Morally, I was destabilized. I fell into a two weeks coma thinking about what I must have done wrong. But now listening to Davido latest song, I couldn’t but keep enjoying the lyrics while also encouraging myself. Some would say o boy you just dey talk too much, you just dey write too much. Then I kept wondering why dem kan dey para para para for me.

Before the whole matter get serious, I had to re-access myself and engage in some comparative stratum.



Davido is not me, neither am I davido. While my account is empty like a broken bucket, the open secret about me is that I am but a poor church rat whose wallet may soon start crying and shouting that I should stop carrying him all around for decoration.

But the case of Davido is different. The young popular musician is not only a talented versatile singer, but also rich and generous.



Then I began to ask myself like a little boy without a father or a mother, why everybody kan dey para para for me. Why is everyone stinging me with the yarm barns? The poor me why can’t I live my life? Monday to Thursday, I did 12 hours reading marathon, because that was the only thing I had inherited from my poor dad who was a teacher in the 90s. However, those who saw me kept para para para for me.



Therefore, I asked what else should I do?

Someone should please come to my rescue. O boy you don dey talk too much. O boy you don dey do too much, Perhaps I’m not the only one in this situation! Who else? I always do put on slippers to class, but now that I manage to buy #800 akube sandals, dem dey para for me. Why them kan dey para for me? The other day while I was sick, they were quick to wish me sorry? But now that ……



Then I began to wonder what do the enemies of Davido really want? Should he gets poor and suddenly start begging for money? Why them kan dey para for him? Small thing, they accuse him of talking too much? Isn’t this tale like that of a popular village drummer in the market square?



Every day he would go to the market to flex his muscles on his drum made of tiger skin. While his head and hands move in unison, his eyes kept swirling left and right about to pop out. Before the whole matter gets serious, the market men and women were already testing the patience of the floor with their legs moving front and back uncontrollably. While the earth roars with dust. Still the market men and women kept dancing and selling their goods happily. But other drummers out of envy who couldn’t understand the magic behind the drummer’s trick plotted against him and stole his drum.



Not quite long, the market square became empty and sour because none among the envy drummers could drum to make the people dance, buy and sell happily. There was no peace in the land until the gods of the land who were angry revealed through the oracle consulted by the Ifa priest spoke with fire? Why una kan dey para para for him? Before the matter get serious, before the whole matter gets dangerous , you need to make sure you don’t say too much….to be continued!

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/29/fem-by-davido-an-insight-into-the-life-of-a-poor-boy/

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/26/ASUU-says-its-strike-have-not-been-called-off/

A news outlet called “netsentertainment.com” had written yesterday that ASUU has called off its strike and that University lecturers should resume work on the 28th day of September, 2020. In a swift reaction, lecturers and students took up the matter by seeking confirmation and clarification from other sources.
ASUU chairmen contacted in Lagos, Ilorin, Kano, Kaduna, Port-Harcourt and other Universities said it was not true. The chairman of Unilorin ASUU responded to our reporter that “the news was fake” while that of Lagos said “it talks a [process to call off a strike and as a member of National Executive Committee (NEC) he was not aware that process has been followed so the strike was still in force”.
ASUU had also responded on what is said to be a fake ASUU twitter page to say the strike was still in force.

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/26/ASUU-says-its-strike-have-not-been-called-off/

GboyegaD:
Too much of sentiments. They go on strike asking for increase in salaries. Why not ask for infrastructural developments?

The new millennium saw the wake of developmental fees, what are these funds spent on?

Almost every VC has a corruption allegation over their heads, why are these lectures not ensuring that corruption loopholes are blocked through proper institutionalization of processes. Why teach something they can't even apply?

The VC is an Oga lecturer appointed by the govt. So, the govt is supposed to check them not the subodinate lecturers. Cases brought up by the lecturers are not attended to by the govt.

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/22/524/

BY C. C. NNAJI

Let me begin with an appeal.
University lecturers are our children, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, molders, partners in progress and many more.
Appeal to parents, students and all stakeholder.
The time is ripe to do the right!

The argument revolving around the survival of the educational sector in general and Nigerian universities in particular has been raging for decades. But never have we come so close, face to face, with an imminent collapse unless drastic measures are taken. In this article, I will be as analytical, objective and as factual as possible so that those who pretend to be deaf might hear. By this exposé, I intend to rouse all and sundry to rally round the Nigerian Lecturer and put up a last minute struggle in order to forestall the looming tragedy.




*The First Shock*




The Nigerian Lecturer is the most abused, misused, exploited, misunderstood and manipulated civil servant in the country. When he assumes duty, he is sent into the fray empty-handed. He is not given any kick-off allowance and to begin with, he has to save up money for months to buy the laptop which he will use to discharge his duties. I am sure you know that a good laptop costs between #200,000 and #500,000, or even more. Now a Graduate Assistant who earns less than #120,000 will save for nearly six months to buy a laptop, given that he also has to pay rent, eat, clothe himself, and pay transport fare to and from work.

Even a senior lecturer cannot comfortably buy a laptop, his basic work implement, without undertaking a rigorous saving scheme. I am typing this treatise from a London-used laptop which still cost me a fortune – a laptop probably used by a white kid to play video games in their backyard, and only had to get rid of because his taxi-driver dad has upgraded him to a super speed version.




*Did you know that lecturers are the only group of workers I know who are expected to provide/source for their own wok implements?*




Now lecturers in some universities buy markers for teaching students. Then, they are also expected to conduct research from their salaries, sponsor themselves to conferences and workshops as well as publish in top notch journals. To publish in a top notch journal, you need to have access to state-of-the-art laboratory and conducive working environment with high speed internet access. No Nigerian university qualifies in this regard. But I still find it a feat that these impoverished, neglected and ill-equipped lecturers still manage to rear their “stubborn” black heads in the global intellectual playing field. They even go as far as making it to the editorial board membership of top journals in the field colonized by unrepentant and hard-to-please white supremacists. Lecturers are expected to spend their salaries to write tons of research proposals (which hardly materialize) in order to attract funds to buy equipment for teaching and research.

Then there is also the issue of internet access and affiliated costs. Many Nigerian universities do not provide internet access to their staff. Even when they pretend to, it is only a low speed sporadic network concocted to give a semblance of conformity. Imagine a professor with his laptop in his hand, chasing internet signal from one tree shade to another. How can he ever be efficient? Sadly, the Nigerian Lecturer is supposed to pay for the service (un)rendered. Many who cannot “chase” the signal retire to their offices and fall back on epileptic data bundle sold by capitalist service providers.

Personally, I spend nearly #90,000 annually on data bundle to perform my statutory assignment. I can hear you shout _propaganda_ ! Now let me take you through. I use the MTN weekly 6GB data subscription that costs #1,500 and sometimes I exhaust it in about four days. Assuming I renew my subscription five times a month, that would amount to #7,500 per month… Now your jaw drops as you realize how serious and factual the matter is! I am sure some people spend more.




*Did you know that it could take years to get published in impact factor rated journals* , yet these “ne’er-do-wells” (in the minds of the uninformed) called Nigerian lecturers still publish thousand of papers in these journals? I have once had to wait for




two solid and uncertain years to have one of my papers published. The situation is further worsened by some publishers who insist on compulsory open access publication which imposes on the prospective author a huge financial burden. A typical example is world class Swiss-based publisher known as MDPI  that charges up to 2000CHF article processing charge per accepted paper. This amount translates to about #1,030,000 per paper! Are you kidding me? Please visit https://www.mdpi.com/apc to verify this claim. This is besides whatever was spent to conduct and report the research, and the Nigerian Lecturer has no choice but to cough out the money “from his intestine” if he has to, or go borrowing!

Yes, I hear you loudly grumbling about the amount of money budget by TETFUND for research. A detailed survey will reveal that the political exertion needed to access the paltry sum awarded in the name of TETFUND grant in many universities is not worth it. A number of countries including China and South Africa fund their lecturers to conduct research and thereafter pay them for publishing the paper in a good journal. In fact, an average researcher in South Africa could earn as much money, if not more, from publications alone as a professor in a Nigerian university would earn as annual salary. Who did this to us?  Please conduct your independent survey. It is unfortunate that Nigeria and Nigerians (including students) want the Nigerian Lecturer to turn into a street beggar before they understand his plight.

Maybe we need to stop using our salaries to buy marker. We can return to the era of the blackboard, and on our way to work we would stop by the “ _akara_ ” woman’s shop and pick up some pieces of charcoal for our lectures! Did you know that the monthly take-home of a Nigerian senator can pay over thirty Nigerian professors? And this is besides constituency allowance and all the other funnels of income (legal and illegal, but mostly illegal) that senators have created from themselves by exploiting the constitution. I do not know of any senator who uses his salary to do his job.




*Luxury is fast becoming a mirage*




What if the Graduate Assistant wants to buy a car? I do not consider a car as a luxury. By the way, no Nigerian lecturer I know or have heard of can buy a brand new car. That’s an illusion that only comes true in the most delightful of dreams.  A fairly used (tokumbo) car costs between #1,500,000 and #2,500,000. Now a Senior Lecturer who earns just about #200,000 will have to save up his entire salary for about ten months to buy a car rejected by a street sweeper in New York.  And for him to do that, he has very limited options ranging from taking a loan, extorting money from students, or taking up an extra job. What about a house? It can take a lecturer an average of fifteen years to build a modest house, and this comes with enormous degree of discipline and self-denial.

The Nigerian Lecturer cannot even afford the flight ticket to one of the smallest African countries for a vacation or short course let alone Europe or America. Yet, he is supposed to collaborate with international partners and be abreast of recent developments in his field. No wonder politicians can now easily buy over a professor at a paltry sum to falsify election results!

*Way Forward*

I know opinions might be vastly divergent on this but I will humbly proffer a simple solution. Firstly there should be a drastic review of the salary of the Nigerian Lecturer. The salary should be readjusted to an African average, at the very least. Did you know that as at 2017, an equivalent of a Graduate Assistant in a Ghanaian polytechnic was earning an equivalent of #350,000, while a professor in Tanzania was earning over #1,000,000 as at 2016? Both of these cases represent three times the salary of their counterparts in Niger-area. Secondly, all recurrent expenses like research/publication, conferences/workshops, internet access, etc. incurred should be dis-aggregated from salary and paid as allowance monthly. Thirdly and lastly, politicians should steer clear of our universities if sanity and sanctity must be restored.

Below is a conservative expenditure of a Senior Lecture on #200,000 per month

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Annual Income                 2,400,000                                                             Expenses

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Rent @ 20,000 per month                                                                            240000

Feeding & water @ #100,000 per month                                               1200000

Transport fare                                                                                                   240000

Data bundle                                                                                                       120000

Electricity                                                                                                             120000

School Fees (assuming 4 kids)                                                                    360000

Conferences                                                                                                      100000

Journals                                                                                                               500000

Health care                                                                                                         50000

Clothing                                                                                                               20000

Many extended family members (unaccounted for here)

Miscellaneous                                                                                                   30000

Tithe (unaccounted for in this analysis)

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Total annual expenditure                                                                            2,980,000




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Annual deficit                                                                                                   580,000

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What a shame!

I plead again that the time is very ripe to do the right!

I rest my altruistic case.




Engr. Dr. C. C. Nnaji
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Nigeria, Nsukka

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/22/524/

WhizdomXX:
Nice one our fine first lady.
Please we in the South South need relief materials too. We are yet to see the positive dividends of democracy from your husband's government. Seems only the north is enjoying that.

same with North Central.