As calls grow for a N2.5 million monthly salary for university lecturers, the President of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS), Ogbomoso, Prof. Ola Ayankeye, has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government to adopt a realistic approach and find common ground.
His remarks followed a report by The PUNCH indicating that professors currently earn between N525,010 and N633,333 as gross monthly salary before tax deductions. The report sparked renewed demands for wage reviews and protests across several campuses last week, with ASUU accusing the government of failing to implement the renegotiated 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement on pay, working conditions, funding, and university autonomy.
Addressing journalists in Ogbomoso on Monday ahead of the 2025 Ministers’ Conference of NBTS, Ayankeye acknowledged that lecturers’ agitation was justified, especially when compared to the “lavish” allowances enjoyed by political office holders. The conference, themed “The Gospel Minister and His Relationships,” is scheduled for September 8–11 at the seminary’s Alumni Multipurpose Hall.
Ayankeye, a Professor of Pastoral Care and Counselling Psychology, stressed that the current salaries of lecturers were inadequate given the worsening economic situation. However, he cautioned academics against focusing solely on personal benefits at the expense of broader issues confronting the education sector.
“Both ASUU and the government must be realistic on the issue of lecturers’ salaries. We, academics, are human beings too. We know the economic situation and how political office holders are remunerated, yet they keep asking for more. Some of them even struggled to pass in school but now determine the fate of academics,” he said.
While urging political leaders to formulate policies for the common good, Ayankeye advised academics to advocate more strongly for improvements in infrastructure, security, electricity, and road networks—factors he argued would make universities more conducive and reduce brain drain. He also warned that higher salaries could make lecturers potential targets for kidnappers, stressing the need to think long-term and focus on leaving a legacy for future generations.
The seminary president further tasked the government with restoring economic and educational vibrancy, while calling on Nigerians to be law-abiding and support their leaders with prayers.
“The theme shall be examined from various perspectives with the hope of enhancing peaceful co-existence in the home and society, which is a major part of the seminary’s mission. Therefore, we call on political office holders and others in government to be more intentional in restoring economic, social, and educational vibrancy in Nigeria. More efforts should also be made to strengthen security so that Nigerians can work and live in peace,” Ayankeye added.
Other seminary officials present at the briefing included Ayo Obiremi, Segun Okunlola, Olusola Oladejo, and Gabriel Oyeniyi.
