By Innocent Nnubia
The Nigerian education sector is an important part of the country’s development, with lecturers playing a critical role in shaping the minds of future leaders. However, despite their critical contributions, Nigerian lecturers frequently go above and beyond their paid duties, performing a variety of unpaid tasks necessary for the education system to function.
These unpaid efforts, while often overlooked, are critical to ensuring educational quality, promoting student success, and advancing the country’s academic and research agenda. From curriculum development and examination invigilation to research and community service, Nigerian lecturers consistently demonstrate their dedication to their students, institutions, and country at large.
This article aims to highlight the unpaid work of Nigerian lecturers, investigating the nature and scope of these unpaid tasks and arguing for the importance of recognizing and appreciating these contributions. By shedding light on Nigerian lecturers’ often-invisible labour, we hope to spark a discussion about the importance of fair compensation, adequate resources, and institutional support for these dedicated educators.
Academic-Related Uncompensated Works
Nigerian lecturers perform a variety of academic-related tasks in addition to their paid duties, which are critical to ensuring educational quality and student success. Here are some examples of unpaid work:
Curriculum Development:
Lecturers dedicate time and effort to designing and updating courses to meet evolving academic requirements, industry needs, and societal trends. This task requires lecturers to conduct literature reviews, consult with colleagues, and create new course materials, frequently without additional compensation.
Examination Invigilation:
Lecturers supervise exams, ensure their integrity, and foster a positive learning environment. Despite the fact that invigilation is an important part of the academic process, lecturers are frequently not compensated for it.
Project Supervision:
Lecturers guide students through research projects, theses, and dissertations, providing valuable feedback and mentorship. This task requires a significant amount of time, effort, and expertise, but lecturers are frequently paid nothing extra for project supervision. If we understand the place of research supervision in the development of students’ potential and prowess, we then will appreciate that aspect of training in the youths of any nation.
Mentorship:
Informal mentorship is an important aspect of academic life, in which lecturers guide, support, and advise students. This task helps students navigate academic challenges, improve their research skills, and gain confidence. Although mentorship is critical to student’s success, it is frequently overlooked and unrewarded.
Academic Advising:
Lecturers advise students on course selection, academic progression, and career goals. This task necessitates lecturers staying current with curriculum changes, academic requirements, and industry trends, but they frequently receive no additional compensation for academic advising.
These academic-related unpaid works demonstrate Nigerian lecturers’ dedication and commitment to their students, institutions, and the education system. Despite the lack of recognition and reward, lecturers continue to devote time, effort, and expertise to these critical tasks, emphasizing the importance of equitable compensation and adequate resources.
Administrative Unpaid Work
Nigerian lecturers perform administrative tasks outside of their paid duties that are critical to the smooth operation of academic programs and institutions. Here are some examples of unpaid work:
Departmental Meetings:
During departmental meetings, lecturers discuss academic programs, curriculum development, and policies. These meetings frequently necessitate preparation, travel, and time away from teaching and research responsibilities, but lecturers receive no additional compensation.
Committee Work:
Lecturers participate in various committees, including curriculum development, staff recruitment, and student disciplinary procedures. These committees require a significant amount of time, effort, and expertise, but lecturers are frequently paid nothing extra.
Student Assessment:
Lecturers assess students’ performance, offer feedback, and keep accurate records. This task requires a significant amount of time and effort, but lecturers are frequently paid nothing extra.
Report Writing:
Lecturers create reports on academic programs, research, and institutional development. These reports require a significant amount of time, effort, and expertise, but lecturers are frequently paid nothing extra.
Accreditation and Quality Assurance:
Lecturers oversee accreditation and quality assurance processes to ensure academic programs meet national and international standards. Lecturers frequently receive no additional compensation for this task, which requires significant time, effort, and expertise.
Staff Recruitment and Development:
Lecturers play a crucial role in recruiting, selecting, and developing top talent for institutions. Lecturers frequently receive no additional compensation for this task, which requires significant time, effort, and expertise.
These administrative unpaid tasks demonstrate the significant contributions that Nigerian lecturers make to the management and development of academic institutions. Despite the lack of recognition and reward, lecturers continue to devote time, effort, and expertise to these critical tasks, emphasizing the importance of equitable compensation and adequate resources.
Research-Related Uncompensated Works
Nigerian lecturers perform a variety of research-related tasks outside of their paid duties, which are critical to advancing knowledge, driving innovation, and improving the country’s academic and research reputation. Here are some examples of unpaid work:
Research Proposal Writing:
Lecturers dedicate significant time and effort to developing research proposals, often without compensation or recognition.
Data Collection and Analysis:
Lecturers often conduct research, analyze data, and interpret findings without additional compensation.
Research Paper Writing:
Lecturers submit and publish research papers in reputable journals without compensation or recognition.
Conference Attendance:
Lecturers attend conferences, seminars, and workshops to share research findings, network with peers, and stay up-to-date on new developments, often without compensation.
Research Supervision:
Lecturers guide and support undergraduate and postgraduate research projects, often without additional compensation.
Journal Editing and Reviewing:
Lecturers edit and review articles for academic journals, contributing to knowledge dissemination and field advancement without compensation or recognition.
Research Collaboration:
Lecturers work with colleagues, industry partners, and international researchers on research projects, often without compensation.
These uncompensated research projects demonstrate Nigerian lecturers’ significant contributions to advancing knowledge, driving innovation, and improving the country’s academic and research reputation. Despite the lack of recognition and reward, lecturers continue to devote time, effort, and expertise to these critical tasks, emphasizing the importance of equitable compensation and adequate resources.
Community Service and Outreach
Nigerian lecturers engage in a variety of community service and outreach activities in addition to their paid duties, which are critical for promoting social responsibility, fostering community engagement, and improving the university’s reputation. Here are some examples of unpaid work:
Community Outreach Programs:
Lecturers offer expertise, resources, and support to local communities.
Public Lectures and Seminars:
During public lectures and seminars, lecturers share their knowledge, expertise, and research findings with the community.
Workshop Facilitation:
Lecturers lead workshops, training programs, and capacity-building initiatives for communities, organizations, and stakeholders.
Mentorship programs:
Mentorship programs involve lecturers guiding, supporting, and advising students, young professionals, and community members.
Community-Based Research:
Lecturers collaborate with community groups, organizations, and stakeholders to address important social issues.
Public Engagement and Advocacy:
Lecturers use their expertise to inform policy decisions and promote social change.
These community service and outreach activities highlight the significant contributions that Nigerian lecturers make to promoting social responsibility, encouraging community engagement, and enhancing the university’s reputation. Despite the lack of recognition and reward, lecturers continue to devote time, effort, and expertise to these critical tasks, emphasizing the importance of equitable compensation and adequate resources.
Finally, the unpaid work of Nigerian lecturers is multifaceted and extensive. From academic tasks to administrative, research, and community service activities, lecturers consistently go above and beyond their paid duties to ensure that academic programs run smoothly, advance knowledge, and promote social responsibility.
However, the absence of recognition and reward for these unpaid efforts have serious consequences for lecturers’ morale, motivation, and overall well-being. It also degrades the quality of education, research, and community engagement, thereby affecting the country’s development and competitiveness.
To address these challenges, we suggest the following:
1. Fair Compensation: Establish fair and equitable compensation packages that recognize and reward lecturers’ unpaid work.
2. Resource Allocation: Provide sufficient resources, infrastructure, and support services to allow lecturers to carry out their duties effectively.
3. Policy Reforms: Evaluate and reform education policies to ensure fairness, equity, and social justice.
4. Capacity Building: Invest in lecturers’ capacity and professional development to improve their skills, knowledge, and expertise.
By recognizing and valuing Nigerian lecturers’ unpaid work, we can foster a more equitable, sustainable, and effective education sector that benefits students, institutions, and the country as a whole.
©️Innocent Nnubia, PhD,
ASUU-NAU/nnubiae@yahoo.com
