The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has kicked against the suspension of Nnamdi Nweze, a professor at the Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), over his alleged critical stance against the Abia State Government.
The APC described Mr Nweze’s suspension by the university as ill-conceived and a punishment for speaking against the alleged injustice being meted out to civil servants in the state.
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The economics lecturer was suspended for a few days over his Facebook post, in which he claimed that tricycle riders earn more than professors at ABSU.
Addressing reporters on Friday in Umuahia, the APC spokesman in Abia, Uche Aguoru, said Mr Nweze’s only offence was speaking out against “bad governance” in Abia.
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Mr Aguoru said the lecturer had consistently raised concerns on social media against poor governance across past administrations.
He said ABSU management suspended the professor for “exposing the underpayment of lecturers” in state-owned tertiary institutions.
According to him, it is “wickedness” for a government to pay a university professor less than ₦400,000 in 2026, using the 2009 salary structure.
Mr Aguoru contended that while lecturers were paid with the 2009 structure, the government taxed them with the 2024 tax regime.
He queried how the state expected quality service from lecturers earning less than N400,000 amid the country’s current economic realities.
The APC spokesman, therefore, called on the Abia State Government and ABSU management to recall Mr Nweze without further delay.
He also demanded the immediate payment of all outstanding salaries, allowances, promotion arrears and other entitlements owed to workers in the state.
He called on the media to join in condemning the injustice against workers and lecturers in the state.
He said the people of Abia deserve justice, accountability, transparency, and respect for human dignity.
Mr Aguoru urged the government to stop using “obsolete salary structures” and pay workers according to the approved structure.
He further called for an end to the “victimisation, intimidation, and harassment of civil servants” who advocate for better workers’ welfare.
He said the Academic Staff Union of Universities has directed its members to embark on strike over the same issues raised by Mr Nweze.
Mr Aguoru further said it was “wickedness for the government to owe retirees up to 30 months in an era of improved allocations”.
He alleged that the state was receiving between N40 billion and N60 billion monthly from federal allocations and internally generated revenue.
He said there was no justification for the government to owe civil servants and retirees, “while federal allocations were paid as and when due”.
Disciplinary committee against ‘anti-party comments’ in Abia
On party matters, Aguoru said that APC had set up a disciplinary committee to address anti-party comments by some of its leaders.
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He cited remarks by a senator, Orji Kalu, on national television, in which he predicted victory for the Labour Party governor in 2027.
Mr Aguoru said that Senator Kalu, representing Abia North District, had been asked to explain to the disciplinary committee how the governor would win the poll.
He said the party was also addressing comments by a House of Representatives member, Chris Nkwonta, representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency.
He said that APC remained the largest political party in Abia with structures in all wards and polling units.
Mr Aguoru said the party’s ongoing membership registration had recorded over 200,000 members, with more still being added.
(NAN)
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