Kaduna Lecturers Kick as Corps Members Receive Higher Pay

By Charles Maduka

Lecturers at Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria, and the Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, have expressed outrage over what they describe as the “insulting” disparity between their wages and the earnings of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to the institutions.

Several lecturers, some with over a decade of experience, lament that their monthly salaries, ranging from ₦63,000 to ₦65,000, fall below the allowances paid to corps members, which reportedly reach ₦77,000 in total. The disparity has fueled anger among academic staff who say they are being neglected despite their years of service.

“It’s disheartening that those we are training earn more than us. How are we supposed to survive or stay motivated in such a system?” a lecturer stated anonymously.

The situation has reportedly triggered a wave of resignations, with many qualified staff relocating to institutions such as Kaduna State University. Others have quit academia altogether, citing stagnant salaries, poor working conditions, and rising living costs.

A visit to the Gidan Waya campus revealed dilapidated facilities and overgrown hostel blocks, now abandoned by students due to structural decay and infestation by rodents and snakes. Students now reside off-campus where housing is costly, further compounding their hardship.

“The hostels are unlivable. There’s no water, no electricity, and basic sanitary conditions are non-existent,” a female senior lecturer said.

Staff attribute the stagnation to the Kaduna State Government’s refusal to implement the CONTEDISS salary structure, a federal scheme already adopted in other states.

With transportation and food costs soaring, some lecturers revealed they can no longer afford fuel or keep their children in school. “Lecturers are falling sick and dying in silence,” said one staff member.

While the state government has remained silent, a three-day warning strike was recently suspended following the intervention of top government officials. Stakeholders now urge Governor Uba Sani to act swiftly to prevent further collapse of the state’s educational system.