According to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, institutions across the country may go on strike in 2024 due to the education sector’s tight budget and low compensation.
Prof. Emmanuel Oshodeke, Chairman of ASUU, stated on Monday that during the campaign and election earlier this year, President Bola Tinubu committed to increase the education sector by 15% or more.
Similarly, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization argued for a 26% benchmark allocation for member nations’ education sectors.
He complained that Nigeria has the lowest pay for professors in the world.
According to Oshodeke, ASUU was dissatisfied when the 2024 education budget was announced to be N2.18 trillion, or 7.9 percent of the entire budget.
He emphasized that it was the same figure throughout the Buhari government, and that if the budget was not increased, the sector would not expand.
Oshodeke urged the administration to meet with cabinet members and enhance the budget by at least 15%.
“With this seven per cent education budget, nothing will change in the sector, it is just as we had during Buhari’s time. Tinubu during his campaign promised to increase the education budget but nothing.
“However, there is still a chance for him to change. But if there is no improvement on this and our other demands, by next year, we will mobilise our people and we can’t stay like this because Oyo State has 15 per cent and Enugu State budgeted 32 per cent for education, but FG is giving less than eight per cent,” he said.