BY: DR NURADDEEN DANJUMA, Bayero University, Kano
Your Excellency,
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
Abuja, Nigeria.
Your Excellency,
With profound respect and patriotic concern, I write this open appeal as a voice of reason on behalf of thousands of staff in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, who are currently navigating a treacherous path of uncertainty, neglect, and economic hardship. We, the workers in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across Nigeria, are burdened by persistent salary delays, withheld arrears, and a lack of implementation of renegotiated wage improvements. These issues have become chronic, and their effects on morale, productivity, and national development cannot be overemphasized.
“A stitch in time saves nine.”
Timely action now can prevent a larger crisis in the near future, especially when the stability of the tertiary education sector and the unity of your political base is at stake.
1. The Salary Delay Crisis and Its Political Consequences
As the calendar turns yet again to the end of the month, the narrative remains sadly familiar: salaries are delayed. The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), under your administration, has repeatedly failed to meet salary deadlines without offering transparent explanations. This pattern not only undermines the welfare of academic and non-academic staff, but also chips away at public confidence in your government’s ability to uphold basic commitments.
Worse still, the continued delay is routinely blamed on non-release of funds from the Presidency, which we find difficult to believe, given your record of prompt approvals and commitment to public sector stability. This deflection from OAGF is not only irresponsible but potentially damaging to your political goodwill, especially ahead of the 2027 elections. The tertiary education community, comprising over 100 institutions and tens of thousands of educated, discerning voters, is not unaware of the bureaucratic sabotage hidden behind this façade of blame.
2. The Arrears of the 25%/35% Salary Increment: A Matter of Justice
It is on record that your administration approved salary increases of 25% and 35% for public servants. While other sectors have received their arrears dating back to early 2023, staff of tertiary institutions have been unjustly sidelined. We have been told the Presidency has not “approved” our inclusion—yet this contradicts the ethos of equity and fairness your government stands for.
Even more disturbing is the nepotistic pattern of payment that has emerged. Selected sectors and ministries have had their arrears cleared, while university workers are left in limbo. This selective fulfillment of financial obligations is not only unconstitutional but also demoralizing. It has left many in academia unable to meet basic family and professional responsibilities, including payment of school fees, access to healthcare, and fulfillment of research duties.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”…Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This situation sets a dangerous precedent where fairness is no longer the norm, and neglect becomes institutionalized.
3. The Renegotiated Salary Structure: Why the Delay ?
The Renegotiated Salary Package; a modest and long-overdue request by tertiary institution unions is still sitting idle on your desk. Mr. President, this package is not a luxury. It is a lifeline for those who commit their lives to training the next generation of Nigerian leaders, engineers, scientists, and administrators. While the political class and MDAs benefit from inflated, unregulated allowances, the very workforce sustaining intellectual and technological development is languishing in poverty.
Your administration has shown remarkable goodwill in infrastructural renewal and social investment, but these achievements risk being overshadowed if the intellectual backbone of the nation its lecturers, researchers, and educational staff continues to be treated with indifference.
“When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.”
— African Proverb
But even the strongest tree will wither if the roots are starved. The university system is one of Nigeria’s deepest roots.
4. A Sincere Plea for Action:
Mr. President, your reputation as a man of bold decisions, large heart, and progressive vision is known. Your legacy is being written with every decision and inaction. A government that cannot secure the welfare of its knowledge workers cannot credibly promise innovation, national transformation, or global competitiveness.
We, the modest men and women in academia, are not asking for extravagance. We are simply requesting fairness:
Immediate clearance of salary arrears, especially the 25%/35% increase for tertiary staff.
Release and implementation of the Renegotiated Salary Package as a matter of urgency.
Reformation of the salary disbursement process to eliminate political bottlenecks and bureaucratic sabotage from the OAGF.
We are not agitators, we are educators. We are not enemies of the state, we are builders of the state. But without justice, even the best of intentions will collapse under resentment, low morale, and disengagement.
Conclusion
History is Watching..
Mr. President, you buried Baba Buhari. Today, history is judging him and it will judge all who occupy the highest seat of leadership. We trust you will not let down the dreams of your most loyal constituents. The Nigerian academic community still has hope in your administration. Please do not allow bureaucrats and political gatekeepers to wreck the ship you are sailing.
Time is of the essence. The weight of history is real.
