Abia APC condemns suspension of ABSU Professor, demands immediate reinstatement
The Abia State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has condemned the suspension of Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze by Abia State University, ABSU, describing it as “an act of intimidation and an assault on freedom of speech.”
The party called for the professor’s immediate reinstatement and demanded urgent action to address the welfare of lecturers and workers in the state’s tertiary institutions.
In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, and made available on Friday, the APC said the suspension was in response to Prof. Nwaeze’s comments on the poor welfare conditions of academic staff under the Alex Otti administration.
The APC described the suspension of a university professor “simply because he raised concerns about the welfare of lecturers and made comments deemed uncomplimentary to the Governor” as evidence of the government’s intolerance towards dissent and constructive criticism.
“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.
“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.”
The party queried why lecturers at ABSU were allegedly still being paid under the 2009 ASUU/FG salary structure while being subjected to the 2024 tax regime.
It cited claims 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,” and alleged that some staff were being 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. 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,” the APC stated.
The statement read, “Recall Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze without further delay and discontinue the suspension. The state government should Pay all outstanding salaries, allowances, promotion arrears and other entitlements owed to lecturers and workers in state-owned institutions.
The state government should address the continued use of obsolete salary structures* and ensure workers are paid according to approved remuneration and stop the victimization and harassment of civil servants who speak out on workers’ welfare and governance issues.”
The party said the suspension appeared designed to “intimidate and cow civil servants into silence,” and recalled that Mr. Otti, as a private citizen, “freely took full-page advertisements in national newspapers to criticise previous governments.”
“We will continue to demand accountability, transparency and respect for the dignity of workers and Abians in general. Abia State belongs to all of us, not to any individual, political party or administration,” the statement concluded.