APC condemns suspension of Abia university lecturer over salary claims

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has strongly condemned the recent suspension of Professor Nnamdi Nweze from Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU). The party described the university's action as "ill-conceived" and a punitive measure against Nweze for his critical stance on the Abia State Government's alleged mistreatment of civil servants.

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Mr Nweze’s only offence was speaking out against “bad governance” in Abia.

Professor Nweze, an economics lecturer, was suspended for a brief period following a social media post where he claimed that tricycle operators in the state earn more than university professors. Uche Aguoru, the APC spokesman in Abia, stated that Nweze's "only offense was speaking out against 'bad governance' in Abia." Aguoru further alleged that the university management suspended Nweze for exposing the "underpayment of lecturers" in state-owned tertiary institutions.

The APC spokesman criticized the government for paying university professors less than ₦400,000 annually, using a salary structure from 2009 while applying a 2024 tax regime. Aguoru questioned the state's expectation of quality service from lecturers under such economic conditions. The party has demanded the immediate recall of Professor Nweze and the prompt payment of all outstanding salaries, allowances, promotion arrears, and other entitlements owed to state workers.

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it is “wickedness” for a government to pay a university professor less than ₦400,000 in 2026, using the 2009 salary structure.

Furthermore, the APC called for media support in condemning the alleged injustice against workers and lecturers. Aguoru urged the Abia State Government to abandon "obsolete salary structures" and implement approved payment scales. He also demanded an end to the "victimization, intimidation, and harassment of civil servants" who advocate for better welfare. The party noted that the Academic Staff Union of Universities has directed its members to strike over similar issues. Aguoru also alleged that the state receives substantial monthly federal allocations and internally generated revenue, questioning the justification for owing civil servants and retirees while these funds are reportedly paid promptly.

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it was “wickedness for the government to owe retirees up to 30 months in an era of improved allocations”.