How Much Do Lecturers Earn as Salary in Nigeria?

The process of being a lecturer in Nigeria is an interesting one. You should have many years of experience under your belt and acquire various degrees to boost your chances of becoming a lecturer in any Nigerian university.

Many people are interested in knowing how much lecturers in Nigeria earn every month. On the other hand, there are primarily undergraduates who desire to become a lecturer after graduation from their respective tertiary institutions.

Not every lecturer discloses how much he or she is being paid every month or at the end of every semester. This has made it difficult for some students who are doing research work to know the amount a lecturer in Nigeria receives monthly and at the end of a calendar year.

Seeing this problem, I have taken it upon myself to do the research and presented a table showing the lecturer’s salary structure according to their cadre.

This article will not only show you the salary structure, but it will also help to understand the roles and responsibilities of a lecturer.

Suppose you are looking to become a lecturer in any university, polytechnic, or college of education in Nigeria. In that case, this article will estimate what you are bound to earn – according to your cadre, qualification, level, or rank.

Table of Lecturer Salary in Nigeria

From the table above, a Graduate Assistant Lecturer is the most entry-level job you can find in most Nigerian universities. For you to become a graduate assistant lecturer in any Nigerian tertiary institution, you should have a 2nd Class (Upper) or, preferably, a First Class degree. The average salary of a graduate assistant lecturer in a Nigerian university is about N80,000 per month. As a graduate assistant lecturer, you stand the chance of getting promoted and earning higher as you acquire more degrees.

After completing the Graduate Assistant level, a lecturer becomes an Assistant lecturer. For you to attain this level, you should have acquired a master’s degree or a master’s degree in science. Even if you don’t have a master’s degree, you can get to this level with an exceptional first degree. Assistant lecturers in Nigerian universities are paid N114,464 every month.

The average salary of a lecturer II ranges between N1,650,000 to N1,980,000 per annum. Candidates applying for this post should have an M.Sc. or an M.A. with at least two years of teaching experience. On the other hand, as a lecturer, I receive N2,080,000 to N2,685,000 per annum. Next, a senior lecturer earns N3,090,000 to 4,450,000 per annum, whereas a reader can earn anywhere between N3,750,000 to N5,000,000 yearly.

The highest in the hierarchy of lecturers is the professor, whose average salary falls between N4,580,000 to N6,000,000 yearly. It is imperative to let you know that this salary structure only exists in Federal and State Government Institutions. It doesn’t include private-owned universities and colleges.

Another thing to note is that the salary levels vary for university professors depending on a host of factors, including their faculty and the university they work for, academic qualifications, personal qualifications, and abilities, administrative responsibilities of the job, and experience.

Professors can also earn money from their sabbatical leave, allowing them to do per-time contract jobs with other universities and get paid.

Who is a Lecturer?

A lecturer can be said to be a person whose profession is to teach or lecture students, especially graduates and undergraduates. Lecturers work in universities and other higher institutions such as polytechnics and colleges of education. The main reason why they are called lecturers and not teachers is that they give out lectures, tutorials, and seminars and engage in discussions and practical demonstrations in their classes, which are quite more prominent than that of an average classroom.

They are bound with skills that make them geniuses and professionals in their various fields of study. One of a lecturer’s many outstanding skills is understanding student behavior and using it to impart knowledge to them. They are life-changers because they are the ones who train the students and prepare them for life outside the four walls of the university.

A good lecturer will teach and prepare you to be qualified in your chosen profession or career.

How to Become a Lecturer in Nigeria

Becoming a lecturer in Nigeria is not only about your academic qualifications but your discipline, skills, and years of experience. Before anyone can think of applying for the job of a lecturer in a Nigerian university, he or she must be teachable and resourceful.

Also, you should have graduated with a minimum of Second Class (Upper Division). Today, most institutions recruit graduates with first-class degrees to take up the role of lecturers. If you graduate with a first-class degree, you may be lucky to be retained by your university.

As a lecturer, your journey starts when you take up the role of a Graduate Assistance (GA). Your salary as a Graduate Assistant depends on what your university offers you. Also, you may be granted a scholarship to study abroad and the opportunity to bag a master’s degree.

On the other hand, if you are not retained by your university but desire to be a lecturer, there are some things you must do to make your dreams a reality.

It is crucial for you to meet the following requirements as this will increase your chance of getting a job in any tertiary institution in Nigeria:

• You must have earned yourself a degree in a specific field of study. More degrees and years of experience in your area of specialization enhance your chances of securing a lecturing job.
• You must graduate as a second-class division (2.1) or, preferably, an upper-class division (first class). Anything lower than a second-class upper will ruin your chances.
• You must have the psychological skills to understand students’ behavior. As a lecturer, you should be on alert to study and dictate the atmosphere of your classroom.
• As a lecturer, you will be communicating with students. Good communication skills are practical and crucial for transferring knowledge to students.
• Anyone aiming to become a lecturer in Nigeria must be research-driven. Lecturers are known to carry out a lot of research work. If you are the indolent type, I’m sorry to tell you that the lecturing job may not be for you. You should be able to carry out advanced research work and analysis in regard to your discipline or field of study.
• To become a lecturer in Nigeria, it is crucial you have the skills, intelligence, and passion for producing great scholars through your teaching.

How to Make Extra Funds as a Lecturer

With the condition of Nigeria, school salary is not enough for lecturers to solve their financial problems. Some lecturers resort to extorting money from students to fill their pockets.

If you are looking for a sustainable income stream or a side income as a lecturer, below are some income ideas you can try out:

• Applying as a volunteer for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
• A lecturer can become an investor. Invest in one or two businesses that can give you returns. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic forced a lot of teachers to invest in online businesses and opportunities.
• Having a personal business is another way for a lecturer to make money. It is suicide to rely on just a single stream of income. Set up other businesses such as farming, POS, opening a fashion shop, business center, food business, and laundry business that can generate extra income for you outside the lecturing job.   
• Lecturers can also make money by selling stationery and household wares such as brooms, drums, jerrycans, mopsticks, backpacks, kitchenware, etc.
• Production of study and reading materials. Lecturers can conduct research in their field and create handouts, study materials, and books that will add value to students.
• You can work as an ad hoc staff or electoral officer for INEC during elections.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Lecturer

You will agree with me that aside from giving lectures to students, there are other responsibilities and functions of a lecturer. Most lecturers have extended their services to making analyses, research, and publications, as well as mentoring students.

Here are some of the responsibilities and roles of a lecturer:

• Take up several training courses for undergraduate & postgraduate students.
• Preparing the students for classroom activities and seminars.
• Delivering lecturers and project materials to students.
• Serve as a consultant to individuals, government, corporate brands, organizations, and institutions.
• Conduct a research study in their field of expertise.
• Making findings in scholarly journals or books.
• Review and designate coursework and assessments.

Factors That Determine a Good Salary For Lecturers

In this section, I will explain what determines a good salary for lecturers.

1. Lecturers with a high degree will have a chance to receive high salaries.
2. Year of experience in the field of study is also one of the determinants of receiving a good salary.
3. A lecturer who has published many books or been featured in many journals is entitled to earn a good salary.
4. Lecturers who attend class regularly and have fewer students who fail their course will significantly receive an excellent monthly salary.

Conclusion

Becoming a lecturer in Nigeria is not a simple task; it requires years of hard work, training, and genuine work. The Federal Government of Nigeria has a lot of work to do to improve the country’s quality and standard of education.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) goes on strikes periodically because their demands are not met by the government, and students are the biggest victims. If the government pays more attention to education and increases its budget for education, the salaries of lecturers and teachers in the country can be better.