Udom: Akwa Ibom varsity lecturers are highest paid in Nigeria

Udom Emmanuel says his administration gives N327 million in monthly allocation to Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU).

According to NAN, the governor spoke on Saturday in Uyo during a programme titled ‘The Governor Speaks’.

A report was recently submitted by the visitation panel set up about a year ago to look into the problems of AKSU.

In response, Udom queried the rationale behind AKSU’s continuous strike, despite the state funding it was getting.

He claimed that AKSU lecturers were among the highest-paid in the country.

“I give Akwa Ibom State University N327 million every month as grant. Also, going by the figures I have, lecturers in AKSU receive the highest salaries anywhere in the country,” the governor said.

“For sustainability, I decided that we align with the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) salary scale applicable everywhere in the country, that is the crux of the disagreement.”

Udom pointed out that AKSU had two different staff unions and that it was not the fault of the state government.

He reprimanded the management of the institution for not working toward being self-sufficient and sustainable.

The governor assured that recommendations from the panel would be implemented to allow for smooth academic activities.

“I am optimistic these issues will be resolved, I have set up a panel of inquiry to that effect. We are spending a huge amount of money on providing infrastructure in AKSU,” Udom said.

“Look at the Obio Akpa campus, when we came in, we had to put in money, and today, if you go there, you will see the difference. Even the main campus, the internal roads, right from the gate.”

In recent times, AKSU has been in and out of academic activities due to issues of salaries and the welfare package of both the teaching and non-teaching staff members. It had begun a fresh strike on April 17.