In response to the removal of fuel subsidies, the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has instructed its members to limit their work to two days per week until the government fulfills their demand for a 200 percent salary increase.
President Bola Tinubu announced the end of fuel subsidies during his inauguration in May. Since then, the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has skyrocketed from 198 Naira to the recent price of 617 Naira.
COEASU’s national president, Dr. Smart Olugbeko, stated that the lecturers’ salaries, which have remained unchanged for 13 years, no longer sustain them in light of the increased fuel prices and the high cost of living.
Olugbeko further revealed that the Union has been inundated with complaints from members who can no longer afford transportation to work due to the hike in petrol prices.
Considering this situation, the Union has decided to direct its members to work only two days a week, pending the ratification of this decision during an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. The specific work days will be determined at the meeting.
“The current salary structure for staff in Colleges of Education was approved in 2010—13 years ago! Meanwhile, the price of petrol has increased from N65/N70 in 2010 to N650 in 2023 (a tenfold increase). Despite the Union’s proposal of a 200% salary increase, the government has refused to return to the negotiation table and has instead offered a meager 35% for Chief Lecturers and 23% for other positions,” stated Olugbeko.
Olugbeko urged the federal government to take immediate action, as the Union’s response to this hardship will have severe consequences for students, leading to an extended academic calendar.
“A 16-week semester will become 32 weeks or even longer, while a 6-month Teaching Practice exercise will become 12 months,” he warned.
“We appeal to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to address the issue of salary adjustment for staff in Colleges of Education. We have faith in the President’s ability to tackle this problem, as he generously increased salaries for staff in Lagos State-owned Colleges of Education when he served as the Governor, making them the highest paid nationwide,” appealed the Union’s president.