The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has called on the Federal Government to prioritize sustainable welfare improvements for university staff, warning that loans cannot replace fair wages or long-overdue entitlements.
Reacting to the launch of the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF) — a loan scheme offering up to ₦10 million to eligible academic and non-academic staff — CONUA described the initiative as a welcome gesture but stressed that it should not divert attention from critical issues affecting the academic workforce.
In a statement released on Monday, CONUA’s National President, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, emphasized that what university lecturers urgently need are long-term solutions, not temporary financial relief through credit.
“The economic situation of academics requires immediate, non-loan-based interventions. Loans cannot replace earned entitlements or a decent, livable wage,” the union said.
CONUA highlighted a series of unresolved issues still affecting its members, including unpaid Earned Academic Allowances, withheld salaries covering over three months, and promotion arrears. The union also raised concerns about unremitted third-party deductions from April to June 2022, unpaid 2023 wage award arrears, and five months of outstanding minimum wage arrears.
It called for an immediate and comprehensive review of academic salaries, pointing out that the last major adjustment was carried out in 2009, despite rising inflation and the depreciating value of the naira.
With many retired lecturers facing delays in receiving their pensions, CONUA also demanded that the government remove existing obstacles to the prompt payment of pension arrears and other retirement benefits.
While acknowledging the TISSF scheme as a positive step, the union insisted that fairness and inclusivity must guide its implementation. It called for the involvement of all relevant staff unions, including CONUA, in the monitoring and administration of the scheme to ensure equitable access.
“The implementation must be transparent, and no union should be left out of the decision-making process. This will help prevent any form of bias or bureaucratic bottlenecks,” Sunmonu added.
CONUA urged the government to complement the loan initiative with deeper, structural reforms aimed at restoring the dignity of academics and reviving the education sector as a whole.
