The suspension of Professor Nnamdi Chinwendu Nwaeze of the Department of Economics, Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), is currently generating serious controversies, as many have slammed the current administration in the state for intimidation.
From what was gathered from the press statement by Chijioke Nwogu, ABSU’s PRO was suspended over what the university described as social media posts deemed “inimical to the interests of the University” and “uncomplimentary” to its visitor, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.
Taking a deep look at what Prof. Nwaeze posted on the 12th of August with the title “ASUU-ABSU STRIKE: MATTERS ARISING”, he started by saying, “It is no longer news that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abia State University branch, has downed tools in what it described as a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike.”
Going further, he said, “All along, some of us decided not to talk about the ugly situation of ABSU staff until the union acted. Had any of us brought this up before now, the issue would have been dismissed as a political statement and tagged “information from the enemies of the state.
“It is, therefore, imperative to educate objective minds to know that ASUU-ABSU members are among the most selfless, compassionate, understanding, and hard-working unions across all the universities in Nigeria.”
Prof. Nwaeze went further to say that even with little or no motivation, these academics and noble men have sacrificed their comfort and rights to ensure a seamless and stable academic calendar over these years.
He went further to expose that ASUU-ABSU members are among the least paid university lecturers in Nigeria and that they are being paid with the 2009 ASUU/FG salary structure.
Prof. Nwaeze said that no other university in Nigeria is being paid with this agreement, except ABSU, stressing that ASUU-ABSU lecturers are the least paid in Nigeria.
Nwaeze equally revealed that in ABSU, staff members are being taxed with the 2024 tax rate on the 2009 salary scale. He added that there existed a 2024 ASUU/FG salary structure, which was not implemented in ABSU.
Making further revelations, Prof. Nwaeze said that there is another existing ASUU salary structure from December 2025, which took effect January 1, 2026, which is yet to be implemented in ABSU. And also added that all lecturers promoted between 2023 and 2026 have not been paid salaries in their new promoted ranks three years after.
Explaining further, he said that there are members of the union who haven’t been paid for up to 44 months, adding that currently, arrears are not being paid, while union dues deducted by the government are not being remitted to ASUU.
He further added that lecturers in ABSU have never received their Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) in the history of the university and added that about N163 million in cooperative deductions are being owed by the government.
He went further to ask in his exposition, “Are you aware that professors in all the federal and most state universities now earn between N1.3m and N1.4m as against what is obtainable in ABSU?”
Going further, Nwaeze said, “Let me be blunt at this time. Did you know that most professors in ABSU earn less than N400k monthly? At this salary scale, a Keke driver who earns a daily net income of just N15k (many earn N20k & above daily) would earn more than a professor in ABSU (N15k x 30 = N450k per month)?”
He said that statistically, more than 85 per cent of lecturers no longer drive their cars and added that there is no staff of Abia State University, teaching and non-teaching, who does use borrowing, previous savings, rent income, or royalties from intellectual property to subsidise the Abia State government in order to do his/her job.
He said that rather than receive a subsidy from the government, staff are the ones subsidising the state government.
Prof. Nwaeze said that in the same Abia State, a local government councillor who may not have an ordinary WAEC-level certificate allegedly earns about N600k monthly, while a House of Assembly member earns about N8 million naira net salary in Abia State.
He even said that most appointees of the Otti-led government can pay the salaries of a professor and still have enough to take care of their family and personal needs.
“In good faith, would you continue to work under such conditions if you were staff? If your parents are the ones working there, how would you react?
“Dear friends, this is not the time to play politics with such a sensitive welfare matter. All men of good conscience should plead with the Abia State government to pay ASUU-ABSU staff their due pay and end this strike within the shortest time.
“The government has no financial excuse as to why it would not pay the lecturers, given the improved financial fortune of the state since 2023.
“ASUU-ABSU members deserve a living wage; they deserve commendation and not condemnation,” he concluded.
In a swift reaction, the management announced his suspension, which takes immediate effect, on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
According to the statement signed by the Deputy Registrar and Public Relations Officer, Chijioke Nwogu, the action followed concerns arising from “various social media posts attributed to Professor Nwaeze”.
The university, however, did not disclose the specific posts allegedly made by the professor, nor did it state precisely how the publications were considered inimical to the interests of the institution.
“Management has suspended Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze of the Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences,” the statement said.
It added that the suspension was necessitated by concerns over social media posts attributed to the academic which were considered “inimical to the interests of the University and uncomplimentary to the Visitor of the University.”
In what could further deepen the controversy, the university said it had constituted an Investigative Panel to examine the matter.
The suspension, according to the institution, will remain in force pending the outcome of the panel’s investigation.
Professor Nwaeze’s suspension is also significant because the university’s visitor is Governor Alex Otti, meaning that the institution has expressly linked the alleged social media conduct to comments considered “uncomplimentary” to the governor.
Reacting, the Abia State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the suspension of Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze by the Abia State University (ABSU) over a post he made about the welfare of lecturers and some debt owed to them.
APC further described the suspension as disturbing and an act of intimidation, victimisation and an assault on the fundamental right of a citizen to speak out against injustice, poor governance and the deterioration of workers’ welfare under the Alex Otti administration.
Uche Aguoru, Publicity Secretary, APC, Abia State, said that Professor Nwaeze is not a stranger to speaking his mind. His criticism of poor governance did not begin with the administration of Governor Alex Otti.
“He has consistently used his social media platforms to comment on issues of public interest and draw attention to what he considers failures in governance,” Aguoru said.
“It is, therefore, disturbing that his recent intervention, which focused substantially on the deplorable welfare conditions of academics in Abia State, has resulted in his suspension.
“Why should Prof. Nwaeze be punished for speaking out about the plight of workers and disclosing that a professor at Abia State University reportedly takes home less than ₦400,000 monthly, while professors in some other states earn approximately ₦1.4 million?
“Why will the Alex Otti administration continue to pay lecturers under the 2009 ASUU/FG salary structure despite the existence and implementation of newer salary arrangements in other universities, while at the same time subjecting them to the 2024 tax regime?
“It is unconscionable to impose a current tax burden on workers while continuing to pay them according to an obsolete salary structure.
“Even more shocking is the disclosure that some members of staff are reportedly owed salaries for as long as 44 months.
“If these allegations are untrue, the appropriate response from a responsible government should be to provide the facts and demonstrate otherwise. If they are true, then the appropriate response should be an immediate investigation, corrective action and payment of every legitimate outstanding entitlement, not the suspension of the professor who brought these disturbing issues into public consciousness.
“Since the inception of the Alex Otti administration, Abia workers have endured severe economic hardship, insecurity over their employment and victimisation whenever they raise legitimate concerns about their welfare.”
Aguoru said that the suspension of Prof. Nwaeze is, therefore, not only punitive but appears designed to intimidate and cow civil servants and other public employees into silence, particularly those who may wish to speak out against the deteriorating welfare conditions of workers in the state.
He said that under previous administrations, Abians enjoyed the freedom to speak out openly without fear of intimidation or victimisation. And added, “Indeed, Mr Alex Otti, as a private citizen, freely took full-page advertisements in national newspapers to criticise previous governments and express his views on issues of public interest.
“Abia workers are faced with the harsh realities of rising living costs and diminishing purchasing power; the state government has refused to show empathy, responsibility and commitment to improving workers’ welfare.
“Instead, the administration appears more interested in silencing those who dare to speak about the problems confronting them.”
The APC therefore calls on the Abia State Government to immediately recall Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze without further delay and discontinue the unjust and punitive suspension.
“Pay all outstanding salaries, allowances, promotion arrears and other legitimate entitlements owed to lecturers and other workers in the state’s higher institutions.
“Immediately address the continued use of obsolete salary structures and ensure that workers are paid in accordance with applicable and duly approved remuneration structures.
“Stop the victimisation, intimidation and harassment of civil servants who speak out on issues concerning workers’ welfare, governance and the public interest.”
Going further, Aguoru said, “Abia State belongs to all of us, not to any individual, political party or administration. Those who occupy public office must understand that power is temporary, but the consequences of how they treat the people will remain.”
