The Senate has raised concerns over the escalating brain drain in the country’s universities and other critical sectors, calling for increased budgetary allocations to address the issue.

This was as President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, called for the strengthening of bilateral ties between Nigeria and the Republic of Korea, emphasising cooperation in critical areas like security, agriculture, poverty reduction and climate change.

During plenary, yesterday, the lawmakers lamented the mass exodus of skilled professionals from the country’s tertiary education and healthcare sectors.

Sen Anthony Ani (APC, Ebonyi South) sponsored a motion entitled, ‘Urgent Need to Address the Challenges of Increasing Cases of Brain Drain in the Nigerian University System’.

According to Ani, a report by the National Universities Commission (NUC) revealed that many Nigerian universities operate with less than 50 per cent of the required academic staff due to brain drain. He emphasised that the salaries of university lecturers had not been reviewed in over 15 years, placing them among the poorest-paid educators globally. This situation, he said, is driving academic talent abroad in search of better opportunities.

“Many universities in neighbouring West African countries offer better working conditions than Nigeria, which is alarming and disheartening. Brain drain poses a serious threat to the survival of higher education, particularly in fields like engineering, medicine and sciences,” Ani remarked.

Other senators contributing to the debate highlighted that the issue extends beyond universities. Sectors such as healthcare are equally affected, with doctors and nurses leaving the country en masse each year.

Akpabio noted that over 22,000 Nigerian healthcare workers were employed in the United States.

He said, “Brain drain is a big problem, not just in education but also in critical sectors such as healthcare. We will do our best to improve the situation and ensure better conditions for university teachers and other professionals.”

In response, the Senate called for increased yearly budgetary allocations for universities to address infrastructural decay and improve lecturers’ remuneration.

It also mandated relevant committees to work with the Ministries of Finance, Education and Health to develop strategies to combat brain drain.

Akpabio made the appeal, yesterday, when he hosted the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Pankyu, and other officials from the Korean Embassy at the National Assembly, Abuja.

He hailed the visit as a significant milestone in enhancing the relationship between both countries.

“There are many areas where Nigeria and Korea can cooperate,” Akpabio stated. “Nigeria, with its growing population and pressing challenges like climate change, stands to benefit from stronger ties with Korea, particularly in security, agriculture and poverty eradication.”

He further highlighted the importance of establishing a Nigerian-Korean parliamentary collaboration to boost diplomatic relations.

In response, Pankyu stressed that economic cooperation had long been the bedrock of the relationship between both countries. He cited recent policies by President Bola Tinubu to improve Nigeria’s business environment and attract foreign investment, creating new opportunities for Korean companies in Nigeria.

“The potential for economic cooperation is higher than ever,” Kim noted, referencing the Korean-African summit held in June. “We hope to see more Korean businesses expanding into Nigeria, leading to increased trade between our nations.”

The meeting underscored the commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.