Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze, an Economics professor at Abia State University, has been suspended after making claims about lecturers' salaries and Keke riders' earnings on social media. The university announced his suspension on Thursday, August 13, citing concerns over his social media posts, which are deemed "inimical to the interests of the university."
ABSU Professor's Suspension Sparks Debate Over Lecturers' Welfare
Professor Nwaeze's suspension follows his claims that some Keke riders earn more than professors, and that lecturers at ABSU are still being paid under the 2009 ASUU-FG salary structure. He also alleged that lecturers promoted between 2023 and 2026 have not received salaries reflecting their new ranks.
According to Professor Nwaeze, most ABSU professors earn less than ₦400,000 monthly, while a Keke rider making about ₦15,000 daily could earn more than a professor. He made these claims in a Facebook post on August 12, the same day the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-ABSU) declared a "total, comprehensive and indefinite strike" over unresolved welfare issues.
The Economics professor also claimed that lecturers at ABSU have never received Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and that government deductions from workers' salaries have not been remitted, including about ₦163 million in cooperative deductions and ASUU dues. He further alleged that more than 85% of lecturers could no longer afford to drive their personal vehicles to work because of stagnant pay.
Wider Concerns Over Lecturers' Welfare
The controversy surrounding Professor Nwaeze's suspension has highlighted wider concerns over lecturers' welfare and salary implementation at ABSU. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-ABSU) has been on strike since August 12, demanding the implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement, promotion issues, and non-remittance of cooperative deductions and unpaid EAA dating back to 2009.
In a statement, the university said it has constituted an Investigative Panel to consider the matter and that the suspension takes immediate effect pending the outcome of the investigation by the Panel. The Visitor of the university, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, has been cited as being uncomplimentary to.
Background on Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze
Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze is an established Economics academic whose research focuses on development economics, economic growth, foreign direct investment, fiscal policy, and environmental sustainability. He has over 30 publications to his name, including studies on foreign investment and Nigeria's economic growth, government expenditure and employment generation, fiscal deficits, monetary policy, and energy use.
Prior to his suspension, Professor Nwaeze served as the Director of Information and Communication Services at ABSU, overseeing digital reforms and improvements to the university portal and the introduction of the ABSU QUICK Check App for student verification.
The Road Ahead
Following his suspension, Professor Nwaeze responded on social media, saying, "In life, somebody must pay the price for the liberation of others." He added, "Don't sympathise with me; instead, direct your sympathy to the paymasters." The fate of Professor Nwaeze and the ongoing strike by ASUU-ABSU remain uncertain, but one thing is clear: the controversy surrounding lecturers' welfare and salary implementation at ABSU will continue to unfold in the coming days.
Source: Pulse.ng
