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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Abia varsity suspends lecturer over Facebook post on workers’ pay

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • Abia State University has suspended Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze of the Economics Department over Facebook posts detailing the low pay of lecturers.
  • Professor Nwaeze alleged that lecturers are paid based on an outdated salary structure while being taxed at current rates, with significant delays in salary payments and promotions.
  • The university management has formed an investigative panel to review the allegations made by the professor.

Abia State University has suspended Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze from the Economics Department following his critical social media posts regarding the remuneration of academic staff. The university management cited concerns that Professor Nwaeze's statements were detrimental to the institution's interests and disrespectful to its visitor.

Professor Nwaeze had alleged on Facebook that lecturers at Abia State University were among the lowest-paid in Nigeria. He claimed they were still operating under the 2009 Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)-Federal Government salary structure, despite being subjected to 2024 tax rates. He further stated that a 2024 salary structure and another approved in December 2025 were yet to be implemented at the university.

The suspension follows concerns arising from various social media posts attributed to Professor Nwaeze, which are inimical to the interests of the University and uncomplimentary to the Visitor of the University.

— Chijioke NwoguDeputy Registrar and Public Relations Officer of Abia State University, explaining the reason for the suspension.

Further allegations included unpaid salaries for promotions between 2023 and 2026, and outstanding salary arrears dating back as far as 44 months for some staff. Nwaeze also claimed that deducted union dues were not remitted to ASUU and that Earned Academic Allowances had never been paid. He highlighted a significant disparity in earnings, noting that professors at Abia State University earned less than N400,000 monthly, a figure lower than what a 'Keke' driver might earn daily.

The professor also alleged that over 85 percent of lecturers no longer owned cars and relied on personal savings, loans, and other income sources to subsidize their work, effectively subsidizing the state government. In response, the university management announced the formation of an investigative panel to examine the claims.

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)?

— Professor Nnamdi NwaezeProfessor Nwaeze comparing the monthly earnings of ABSU professors to a Keke (tricycle) driver.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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