Not less than 60 Lecturers died in three months — ASUU

Lafia, Nasarawa State — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sounded the alarm over a troubling spike in deaths among university lecturers across Nigeria, with over 60 reported fatalities in the past three months alone.

National President of ASUU, Professor Chris Piwuna, disclosed this concerning trend during the launch of a medical outreach initiative organized by the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA) chapter of the union. The week-long programme, hosted in Lafia, is aimed at providing comprehensive health screenings for more than 400 academic staff.

This marks the second edition of the outreach and includes a series of critical medical examinations designed to improve the wellbeing of lecturers grappling with the pressures of academic life.

Professor Piwuna commended the FULAFIA ASUU chapter and university management for championing the initiative, noting that the increase in sudden and largely preventable deaths among teaching staff calls for immediate attention.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shehu Abdulraman, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Aleruchi Chuku, stressed the necessity of prioritizing health in a profession as demanding as academia.

“Good health is fundamental to effective teaching and research. If you are unwell, you can’t fulfill your duties. That’s why initiatives like this matter,” he stated.

ASUU FULAFIA Chairperson, Dr Sunday Orinya, emphasized that the union remains committed to the welfare of its members, describing the medical outreach as a vital step toward sustaining that commitment.

Also speaking, Professor Ishaku Bako, Deputy Provost of FULAFIA’s College of Medicine and Chair of the outreach’s Technical Committee, described growing incidents of lecturers collapsing or dying while on duty as deeply disturbing. He detailed the medical tests being offered, including physical assessments (like blood pressure and BMI), eye checks, and key laboratory investigations such as lipid profiles, complete blood counts, and hepatitis screening.

Participants, including Professor Linda Kwondung of Political Science and Dr Joseph Obuje of History, hailed the programme as a timely and thoughtful intervention in support of lecturers’ health.

By Taiwo Olatinwo | June 4, 2025