The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has expressed concern about the growing exodus of teaching and non-teaching staff from Nigerian universities, warning that the trend is leaving many positions unfilled.
The committee’s chairman, Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC., Jigawa), raised the alarm in Abuja on Thursday after an oversight visit to some universities in the South-East. He said it was dangerous for lecturers and other staff to exit the system through retirement or death without efforts to fill the vacancies.
According to Mr. Fulata, authorities at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), confirmed that no fewer than 3,000 teaching and non-teaching staff had left service since 2019 through retirement, death, or resignation, but replacements have not been made.
“It is not normal to see lecturers and even members of non-academic staff leaving the university system by retirement, death, or whichever way without replacement,” Mr. Fulata said.
“It is also not healthy for the university system to have about 3,000 leaving the system and only have permission to recruit just about 500 people.”
He said the 10th House of Representatives is determined to improve the standard of education in the country, noting that the oversight visit was carried out to assess the true condition of the universities.
Mr. Fulata appealed to the governing councils of universities, the Ministry of Education, and other relevant government bodies to ensure the smooth running of the university system by filling existing vacancies.
He also urged university management to comply with the Federal Character principle in staff recruitment, adding that the committee observed low compliance during its tour of the institutions.
“Both old and new universities must ensure that recruitment reflects fairness and national balance,” he said.
