SALARY STRUCTURES AND COMPENSATION PATTERNS OF LIBRARIANS IN NIGERIA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF NATIONAL, ACADEMIC, PUBLIC, AND SPECIAL LIBRARIES

Abstract

This study examined the salary structures and compensation patterns of librarians across national, academic, public, and special libraries in Nigeria. The persistent disparity in remuneration among library professionals in different sectors has continued to generate concerns about staff motivation, retention, and the overall quality of library services. Using a descriptive survey design, a total of 320 librarians were selected from 64 libraries across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones through stratified random sampling. A structured questionnaire served as the primary data collection instrument, achieving a response rate of 91.3% (n=292). Data were analysed using simple frequency counts and percentages. Findings revealed that academic librarians earned the highest mean monthly salary of N187,500, while public library staff recorded the lowest at N68,200. Special library staff earned competitive salaries averaging N245,000 per month, primarily in oil and banking sectors, while national library staff averaged N142,000 monthly. The study found that 74.3% of respondents considered their salaries inadequate relative to their educational qualifications and workload. Irregular allowances, absence of hazard pay, and non-implementation of the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONUASS) in several institutions were identified as major compensation challenges. The study recommends that the Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission (NUC) and relevant ministries, urgently harmonise salary scales for library professionals and enforce full implementation of approved salary templates across all library categories. The findings have significant implications for human resource management in Nigerian libraries and professional advocacy by the Nigerian Library Association (NLA).