A Stinging Inequality Takes Center Stage
Lecturers at Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic in Zaria and Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, have broken their silence—and they did so with righteous indignation. Imagine dedicating your life to educating the next generation, only to discover that serving NYSC corps members earn ₦77,000 monthly—more than your salary of ₦63,000–₦65,000. That’s exactly what’s happening—and it’s more than a punch to the gut; it’s a professional insult.
“We train them, yet they earn more than us…”
A massive blow to morale.
1. Price of Experience
Assistant lecturers, even with five years’ experience, earn just around ₦64,400–₦65,000, while some Lecturer IIIs top out at ₦80,000.
NYSC corps members, on the other hand, have seen direct backing with federal and state stipends adding up to ₦77,000.
This glaring mismatch has prompted an exodus of seasoned staff—names like Genesis, Nathan, Simeon, Nura, and Dr. Philip Hayab are reportedly among those who’ve walked away.
2. Infrastructure on the Brink
The College of Education at Gidan Waya paints a deplorable scene:
Hostels engulfed by overgrown weeds, dilapidated walls, leaking roofs, broken windows, and even snake infestations
Without functional on-campus housing, students are forced to rent off-campus—facing inflated costs and hardship.
Basic services—water, electricity, hygiene—are all sorely lacking.
Lecturers argue this institutional decay undermines the very mission of education.
3. Living in Crisis Mode
Inflation continues its march while wages stand frozen.
Expense Then Now
Transport (Gidan Waya → Kaduna) ₦1,500 ₦7,000
Bag of rice: ₦8,000–₦100,000+
Sachet water: ₦100 ₦500
Lecturers are sinking—fuel bills, school fees, healthcare, and even food have become headaches. Some cars are grounded, kids pulled out of school, and colleagues left sick and dying due to stress.
4. The Root of the Problem: CONTEDISS
Nigeria’s polytechnics and colleges of education are supposed to follow the CONTEDISS salary structure, a scheme ensuring fair compensation. However, despite promises and agreements dating back to 2010, 2014, and even as recently as December 2024, Kaduna State has failed to implement it.
According to union heads like Malam Usman-Shehu Suleiman of ASUP, delays and non-committal government promises have culminated in this crisis—with lecturers prepared to strike until change happens.
5. What’s At Stake
This isn’t merely about pocketbook losses. The effects ripple outward:
Brain drain: Experienced lecturers leaving en masse.
Educational breakdown: Student welfare and learning conditions eroding fast.
Community decay: Local economies are shrinking as student patronage dissipates.
Moral damage: The message sent to future educators is demoralizing.
6. The Time for Action Is Now
Both ASUP and SSANIP are pressing for:
Immediate implementation of CONTEDISS
Fulfillment of promises from 2024
Long-term rehabilitation of campus infrastructure
Ensuring livable wages for academic workers
Lecturers are ready to strike—again—if these demands continue to be ignored.
Final Thoughts
What lay bare in Kaduna today is a national embarrassment: state-sponsored inequality within its own institutions. When tutors earn less than trainees, the system is broken.
It’s time for Governor Uba Sani and Kaduna State to step up:
Sanction CONTEDISS without delay.
Invest aggressively in campus repair and student welfare.
Bolster state support to align with or exceed national standards for educators.
Failing that? A generation of teachers—and their pupils—will pay the price.
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