The protest, led by the UNIZIK ASUU branch chairman, Innocent Nnubia, disrupted traffic on parts of the busy Enugu-Awka-Onitsha Expressway as lecturers marched with placards across the university campus. Their messages read, “End poverty salary now,” “FG stop deceiving us,” and “We don’t want loan, pay us our money.”

Addressing the rally, Nnubia said university lecturers had been on the same salary scale for 16 years despite the rising cost of living. He accused the federal government of failing to honor the renegotiated 2009 Agreement, which was supposed to be reviewed in 2012.

“As of 2009, a professor earned about $3,000 monthly, but today it is less than $400. This is pitiable and unacceptable,” he said.

He described the situation as a national embarrassment and warned that the continued neglect of lecturers’ welfare would further weaken Nigeria’s already struggling education system.

Students and some non-academic staff were seen watching the demonstration, with a few expressing support for the lecturers’ demands.