The Colleges of Education Academic staff union, COEASU says it notes with serious reservations the recent claim by the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities that professors in Nigerian Universities earn less than Chief Lecturers in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
COEASU President Smart Olugbeko, in a statement said the union seldom engages itself in debates over the conduct of affairs of sister unions let alone the university system, which is the ivory tower responsible for the education of the top-level manpower of the nation, however, giving the innuendoes and implicit aspersions supposedly cast on Chief Lecturers, it would not be preposterous to state that a measured response to the statement, in the form of a clarification as well as caution, is not just a matter of necessity but an imperative.
COEASU says While the Union restates its solidarity with ASUU on the impasse with the Federal government, it suffices to state that the union’s sympathy with Nigerian students for their resilience and huge sacrifice for posterity is not in doubt.
Also Read: NANS threatens to storm education ministry over ASUU strike
COEASU says it enjoins the Committee of Vice-chancellors to look inwards and be perceptive enough to draw good lessons from the Union’s solidarity and partnership with ASUU rather than instigating unhealthy and unnecessary rivalry.
COEASU adds that as a well-focused Union with enormous respect and empathy for the Academic Staff Union of Universities, it would not have joined issues with the Vice-chancellors on this seemingly divisive comment except that it is not only misleading but also potentially counter-productive at this time when COEASU is renegotiating the welfare of its members with the Government.
The teachers union says the action of the Vice-chancellors contravenes the principle of mutual respect and solidarity between COEASU and ASUU and the robust support shown towards the painful plight of ASUU members which is equally felt as Colleges of Education lecturers suffering the same poor conditions of service and remuneration.
It says apparently, the comment has openly revealed the long-harboured prejudice and disdain some university lecturers seem to have for their colleagues teaching and doing research at the Colleges of Education all over Nigeria and that this is a tendency of casting aspersions on the capacity of Colleges of Education as citadels of learning.
COEASU Argues that Ironically, some of these university lecturers are quick to apply for the position of Provost or sabbatical year in the Colleges.
COEASU asks Vice-chancellors to note that Chief Lecturers in Colleges of Education are equally professional teachers who possess doctorate degree, which is the highest academic qualification, carry out research, train young minds for national development and engage in impactful community service.
The Unions says it wishes to inform the Vice-chancellors that the salary structure specifically drawn for the academic staff of polytechnics and Colleges of Education is the CONPCASS. This is not the same with the university CONUASS, in terms of value
This is another distinguishing factor between the salary of the academics of universities and Colleges of Education.
COEASU notes that it is quite evident that the Colleges of Education are not being paid the same salaries of universities let alone are Chief Lecturers’ salaries above those of Professors. It is, however, expedient to further clarify that what the government has done over the years has been to calibrate the salary structure of tertiary institutions staff by implementing the rate(s) of increase of emoluments across board for the appropriate staff of all tertiary institutions, Colleges of Education, Polytechnics, and universities.
