Nigerian Professors Ranked Among Lowest Paid in Africa

A recent investigation has revealed that Nigerian university professors are among the lowest-paid academics in Africa, with earnings far below those of their counterparts in other countries on the continent.

Findings show that a professor in Nigeria with fewer than 10 years in the professorial cadre earns an average of $366 monthly (about ₦500,000), which translates to approximately $4,400 annually. By contrast, professors in South Africa earn around $57,471 annually, more than 13 times higher.

Other African countries also pay significantly more: Uganda ($50,595), Kenya ($48,000), Eswatini ($41,389), and Lesotho ($32,455). Even nations with smaller economies such as Gabon ($29,907), Namibia ($23,922), Botswana ($19,935), and Sierra Leone ($18,000) pay higher wages.

Comparisons with Other Countries

Some of the annual salaries for professors across Africa include:

• South Africa: $57,471
• Uganda: $50,595
• Kenya: $48,000
• Eswatini: $41,389
• Lesotho: $32,455
• Gabon: $29,907
• Namibia: $23,922
• Botswana: $19,935
• Sierra Leone: $18,000
• Ghana & Comoros: $12,960
• Mauritius: $12,411
• Malawi: $12,366
• Zimbabwe: $6,579
• Nigeria: $4,400

This pay disparity has contributed to low morale among academics, widespread brain drain, and growing frustration within the Nigerian university system.

Academics React to Poor Salaries

Several Nigerian professors and lecturers shared personal experiences highlighting the realities of poor pay.

One professor explained that he had to reject his Nigerian salary to accept a fellowship stipend, as his monthly earnings were less than €350. Another academic recounted how a colleague, after completing a sabbatical at a government agency with a salary nearing ₦1 million, returned to university work earning only ₦250,000.

Some lecturers have opted to remain permanently in government agencies or international organisations where the pay and working conditions are far more attractive.

At the University of Ibadan, for example, three professors reportedly left for a federal agency offering over ₦2 million monthly, along with benefits such as accommodation, travel allowances, and working facilities—far superior to university conditions.

Declining Passion for Teaching

Many lecturers admitted that passion for teaching is no longer enough to sustain them.

One academic noted that he left a job paying ₦800,000 monthly to return to teaching because of passion, but later regretted the decision when faced with stagnant pay. Others warned that poor remuneration is leading to the exit of talented academics, leaving behind “political academics” with little substance.

Another senior academic lamented that the motivation to “remain for the sake of nation-building” has faded, as many now prioritise securing better opportunities that can guarantee quality education and healthcare for their families.

Salary Breakdown in Nigeria

Under Nigeria’s Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS), earnings remain far below international standards.

• Graduate Assistant: ₦125,000 – ₦138,020
• Assistant Lecturer: ₦150,000 – ₦171,487
• Lecturer II: ₦186,543 – ₦209,693
• Lecturer I: ₦239,292 – ₦281,956
• Senior Lecturer: ₦386,101 – ₦480,780
• Reader (Associate Professor): ₦436,392 – ₦522,212
• Professor: ₦525,010 – ₦633,333 (before deductions)

After deductions, some professors reportedly take home less than ₦300,000 monthly.

Calls for Urgent Review

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Piwuna, blamed stagnant salaries on government neglect, noting that the last major review was in 2009. He argued that while politicians have consistently awarded themselves pay rises, academics have been left behind.

“Our salaries have remained stagnant, which has reduced our morale and affected the quality of lecturers we can attract,” he said.

Prof. Tunde Adeoye of the University of Lagos also urged the Federal Government to urgently review lecturers’ salaries to prevent another strike, warning that many academics can no longer meet basic needs such as housing and healthcare.

The Bigger Picture

The widening gap between Nigerian professors’ salaries and those of their peers in other African nations has raised concerns about the future of higher education in Nigeria. Without meaningful reform, the exodus of skilled academics could worsen, undermining the country’s ability to compete globally in research, innovation, and human capital development.