Brain Drain in Nigeria: Senate Calls for Improved Budgetary Allocations to Universities
The Nigerian Senate has taken a crucial step to address the alarming brain drain in the country’s universities by calling for improved budgetary allocations in the 2025 budget. The decision was made following the adoption of a motion titled "Urgent Need to Address Challenges of Increasing Cases of Brain Drain in the Nigerian University System" sponsored by Senator Ani Anthony.
According to Senator Ani, over the years, there has been a significant outflow of highly educated professionals from Nigeria, particularly in the academia, in search of better working conditions. This has worsened the skill gap in the workforce, hindering economic growth and development. The National Universities Commission (NUC) report indicates that many Nigerian universities operate with less than 50% of the required academic staff.
The senator expressed concern over the poor remuneration of Nigerian university lecturers, which is among the lowest in the world and has not been reviewed in over 15 years. This, he said, cannot meet the current economic realities of the country. Moreover, many universities in other Western African countries have better working conditions than those in Nigeria.
Senator Ani warned that the continuous loss of experienced faculty members to other countries can negatively impact the quality of education and reduce the effectiveness of teaching, learning, and mentorship for students in higher institutions. He also emphasized that brain drain has assumed an unprecedented posture in recent times, largely due to the current economic situation of the country.
The Senate’s decision mandates the Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFUND to liaise with relevant government agencies to work out modalities to check the spate of brain drain in Nigerian universities. Senate President Godswill Akpabio echoed the need for collective action to address the issue, stating that the reasons for brain drain are primarily economic in nature.
The review of employment policies in tertiary institutions is seen as a key step in mitigating the brain drain issue. The Nigerian government must take immediate action to address the challenges faced by universities and retain its brightest minds.
