Urgent Call: Senate Demands Major Budget Boost For Federal Universities In 2025—Will the Government Listen

The Nigerian Senate has urged the Federal Government to boost the budget allocation for federal universities in the 2025 budget to address the pressing challenges faced by these institutions.

The lawmakers have also resolved to empower the relevant committee to engage with the ministers of finance, education, and other pertinent ministries to take immediate action against the rising trend of brain drain in the country.

This resolution followed a motion raised by lawmaker Anthony Okorie, who highlighted the alarming issue of brain drain, particularly the exodus of highly educated professionals from Nigeria, especially in academia, seeking better working conditions. This situation is contributing to a widening skills gap in the nation’s workforce.

Okorie further expressed his concerns regarding the inadequate salaries and poor working conditions faced by Nigerian lecturers. He pointed out that the remuneration for lecturers, which has not been reviewed in over 15 years, remains among the lowest in the world, prompting a continuous loss of experienced professionals from Nigerian universities to other countries.

The Senate has tasked the relevant committee with collaborating with the ministers of finance, education, and other appropriate ministries to address the escalating brain drain issue.