ABSU Suspends Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze Days After Viral Post on ASUU Strike, Lecturers’ Pay

Uturu, Abia State — Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, has suspended Professor Nnamdi Chinwendu Nwaeze of the Department of Economics, days after he published a widely circulated article outlining grievances surrounding the ongoing ASUU-ABSU strike and the welfare of academic staff.

The university said the suspension followed concerns over what it described as “various social media posts” attributed to the professor, which management alleged were inimical to the interests of the institution and uncomplimentary to the Visitor of the University.

The Visitor of ABSU is the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Registrar and Public Relations Officer of the university, Chijioke Nwogu, management said an Investigative Panel had been constituted to examine the matter.

The suspension takes immediate effect pending the outcome of the investigation.

What the Professor Said About the ASUU Strike

The university’s statement did not identify the specific social media post or posts that prompted the suspension.

However, the development came shortly after Professor Nwaeze published a detailed account of issues on his Facebook page, he said were responsible for the indefinite strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), ABSU chapter.

In the publication, Nwaeze presented several grievances concerning salaries, promotion arrears, allowances and other outstanding payments allegedly owed to academic staff.

Among the issues he raised was the claim that ASUU-ABSU members remain on the 2009 ASUU/FG salary structure, which he described as significantly lower than newer salary structures applicable elsewhere.

He further alleged that salary structures negotiated in 2024 and December 2025, with the latter reportedly taking effect from January 2026, had not been implemented at ABSU.

Claims of Salary and Promotion Arrears

Nwaeze also alleged that lecturers promoted between 2023 and 2026 had not received salaries corresponding to their new ranks.

According to his account, some members of staff had gone for extended periods without receiving payments due to them, with some reportedly having outstanding salary arrears running into several months.

He also raised concerns over outstanding union dues and other deductions.

Another major issue highlighted in his publication was the payment of Earned Academic Allowances.

Nwaeze claimed that the allowances had never been paid to ABSU academic staff and further alleged that the government owed about ₦163 million in cooperative deductions.

These claims have not been independently established in the university’s suspension statement.

Comparison With Political Office Holders

The professor’s article also drew attention to the disparity he perceived between the earnings of university academics and political office holders.

He claimed that some ABSU professors earn less than ₦400,000 monthly, using the figure to argue that academic staff remuneration does not reflect their qualifications, responsibilities and years of service.

He contrasted the alleged earnings with what he described as significantly higher remuneration for local government councillors and state lawmakers.

Nwaeze subsequently appealed to the Abia State Government to address the demands of the university’s academic staff and bring the strike to an end.

He argued that the state’s improved financial position since 2023 provided sufficient capacity to address the outstanding obligations.

ABSU Sets Up Investigative Panel

While the timing has attracted attention, ABSU management has not expressly stated that the professor was suspended because of his article on the ASUU strike.

Instead, the university referred generally to social media publications which it said were damaging to the institution’s interests and uncomplimentary to the Visitor.

The Investigative Panel is now expected to examine the allegations and make recommendations to the university management.

Until the panel concludes its work, the precise basis of the disciplinary action remains a matter for investigation.

Strike Tension Intensifies

The suspension comes against the backdrop of the ongoing industrial dispute between ASUU-ABSU and the university authorities and the Abia State Government.

The union’s demands reportedly centre on issues including salaries, arrears, allowances and implementation of agreed conditions of service.

The development could further intensify discussions surrounding the strike, particularly given the professor’s detailed public account of the grievances being advanced by academic staff.

While some observers may interpret the suspension as a possible response to his public criticism, the university’s position is that the matter is being investigated through an established panel.

The outcome of that process could determine whether further disciplinary measures will be taken or whether the suspension will be lifted.

For now, Professor Nwaeze remains suspended pending the panel’s findings, while the wider ASUU-ABSU dispute continues.

This is a developing story.