₦airaland Forum

Kaduna poly, education college lecturers’ allege corps members earn higher pay

There is growing discontentment among the academic staff in Kaduna State as findings reveal that serving members of the National Youth Service Corps posted to the state now allegedly earn more than full-time lecturers in some of its tertiary institutions.

As a result, not a few lecturers at the Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria, and the Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, described the development as “insulting” and a reflection of the state government’s continued neglect of educators’ welfare.

Arewa PUNCH gathered that while corps members receive allowances of up to N77,000 monthly, many lecturers allegedly earn as little as N63,000 to N65,000, despite years of service and teaching experience.

“This is disheartening. How do you expect a family man with over 10 years of experience to survive on N65,000 in this economy?” a lecturer at Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, who spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented.

At the College of Education, Gidan Waya, the situation is reportedly leading to the mass exit of qualified staff.

“We are the ones training these corps members, yet they’re paid more than us. What message is the government sending to the academic community?” Another lecturer queried.

Arewa PUNCH independent investigations showed that a Lecturer III with over five years of experience earns around N80,000, while the newly recruited academic staff are placed on salaries as low as N63,000, under a salary regime that has remained stagnant for years.

The disparity becomes more glaring when compared with NYSC members who, in addition to their federal stipend, enjoy extra state support and incentives depending on their place of primary assignment.

The situation, not a few of the academic staff say, has led to a growing number of resignations among staff.

In the words of one of the concerned lecturers, he simply mentioned a few of those among his colleagues who have left to include: “Genesis, Nathan, Simeon, Nura – all of them have left for Kaduna State University. Some resigned and never came back. Dr. Philip Hayab left abruptly after his study leave,” the lecturer said.

A viral Facebook post by one aggrieved academic Staff reads: “If you are an academic staff in Kaduna State College of Education Gidan Waya, you are a teacher, not a lecturer. Your take-home pay doesn’t take you home.”

Beyond salaries, staff and students are also decrying the decrepit condition of facilities, particularly at the College of Education, Gidan Waya.

Our correspondent, who visited the institution, observed that all hostel blocks have been overtaken by thick vegetation, with walls visibly cracked, leaking roofs, and windows in disrepair.

No student resides in the hostels, as they are considered uninhabitable. Instead, students live off-campus and complain of exorbitant rent charged by landlords in the area.

A non-academic staff member corroborated this claim, “The Kaduna State Government has refused to implement what others already enjoy. Salaries have remained static while inflation keeps skyrocketing.”

Many of the lecturers have also highlighted the sharp increase in transportation costs, noting that a trip from Gidan Waya to Kaduna, which costs about N1,500 in 2022, now gulps as much as N7,000 A motorcycle ride that once cost N50 now goes for N200.

“The price of a bag of rice has jumped from N8,000 to over N100,000. Sachet water that used to be N100 is now N500 per bag. Our cars are grounded because we can’t afford fuel. Our children are out of school. Some lecturers are sick and dying,” one staff member lamented.

Attempts to get official comments from the Kaduna State Ministry of Education and the management of the affected institutions yielded no response.

Meanwhile, the three-day warning strike earlier embarked upon by the academic unions in the state have been suspended following the intervention of the Secretary to the State Government, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, CPS and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education.

Meanwhile, stakeholders have called on Governor Uba Sani to urgently intervene to salvage the collapsing education sector in the state.

SoftSport:
This is really heartbreaking, lecturers earning less than corps members they trained? Thankfully, with president Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, we’re sure real reforms in education and welfare will reach states like Kaduna soon.

Trymeee:
Thought Tinubu said the governor brought sanity to Kaduna..... Same sanity El-rufai supposedly removed.


I will keep saying this, El-rufai had is bad, but no minister or governor in the north can run shoulders with is accomplishment. Dude was the conveyer of the new FCT and even new Croc city.

simonlee:
Will reach?...
When?
After refusing to implement the appropriate salary structure for 15years, leaving them suffering with this high inflation?

SoftSport:
This is really heartbreaking, lecturers earning less than corps members they trained? Thankfully, with president Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, we’re sure real reforms in education and welfare will reach states like Kaduna soon.

Ebubu:
They are State lecturers not federal University lecturers so it is beyond the hand of Tinubu. Governor of Kaduna has to handle it within and raise their income.

SoftSport:
I get your frustration, but the truth is, real change takes time, and while the past is frustrating, we can't dismiss the potential of a new direction that Tinubu has brought, what’s important is pushing for accountability and not letting it slip through the cracks again.

simonlee:
Arewa PUNCH gathered that while corps members receive allowances of up to N77,000 monthly, many lecturers allegedly earn as little as N63,000 to N65,000, despite years of service and teaching experience.

“This is disheartening. How do you expect a family man with over 10 years of experience to survive on N65,000 in this economy?” a lecturer at Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, who spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented.

https://punchng.com/kaduna-poly-education-college-lecturers-allege-corps-members-earn-higher-pay/

entry point was LEVEL 7 and left LEVEL 9 beginning. Mio dur joro yen

simonlee:
https://punchng.com/kaduna-poly-education-college-lecturers-allege-corps-members-earn-higher-pay/

werisetogether:
Interesting situation

Not sure whether the lecturers should be comparing their salaries with those of corpers to start with

The corpers are just there to serve their own dear native land

Let's hope that's all they compare with the corpers...

BigDawsNet:
So kaduna lecturers are earning less than 77k?

This country!!! A whole lecturer

SoftSport:
This is really heartbreaking, lecturers earning less than corps members they trained? Thankfully, with president Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, we’re sure real reforms in education and welfare will reach states like Kaduna soon.