The Nigerian Senate took a significant step towards addressing the escalating issue of brain drain that is severely impacting universities and other critical sectors such as healthcare.
The Senate called for an increase in government budgetary allocations aimed at improving infrastructure and enhancing the remuneration of university lecturers.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to stem the tide of skilled professionals leaving Nigeria in search of better opportunities abroad.
The motion, spearheaded by Senator Anthony Ani from Ebonyi South Senatorial District, highlighted the alarming findings of a National Universities Commission report.
According to the report, many Nigerian universities are operating with less than 50% of the required academic staff due to the ongoing brain drain. Senator Ani pointed out that "the remunerations of Nigerian university lecturers are among the poorest in the world," having not been reviewed in over 15 years, which fails to meet the current economic realities of the country.
The debate underscored that the problem extends beyond academia, affecting other vital sectors like healthcare. Senate President Godswill Akpabio noted that "not less than 22,000 Nigerian health workers are in the United States of America alone," illustrating the severity of the situation. He emphasized the need for concerted efforts to improve working conditions across these sectors to retain talent within Nigeria.
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