Abia State University Lecturer Suspended Over Facebook Post on Workers' Pay

• Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze was suspended by Abia State University over comments he made on Facebook about salary disparities among lecturers.
• The university's management has been accused of failing to implement government-approved salary structures, including the 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement, which became effective January 1, 2026.
• Lecturers at ABSU are among the lowest-paid in Nigeria, with some earning as little as N400k per month.
• Over N163m in cooperative deductions is allegedly being owed by the government, with some lecturers owing up to 44 months of back pay.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that lecturers at ABSU have not received Earned Academic Allowances, with some owing as much as 44 months of back pay.

The suspension of Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze by Abia State University has brought to the forefront long-standing issues with salary disparities and non-compliance with government-approved salary structures. This is not an isolated incident, but rather a symptom of deeper problems within the university's management and its relationship with staff. According to sources, the university's lecturers are among the lowest-paid in Nigeria, with some earning as little as N400k per month. In contrast, professors at federal and most state universities earn between N1.3m and N1.4m monthly. This disparity has led to widespread discontent among staff, who feel that they are being unfairly compensated for their work. The situation is further complicated by the fact that lecturers at ABSU have not received Earned Academic Allowances, with some owing as much as 44 months of back pay.

The university's management has been accused of failing to implement government-approved salary structures, including the 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement, which became effective January 1, 2026. This is not a new issue, as lecturers have been complaining about the lack of implementation for years. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that cooperative deductions are allegedly being owed by the government, with over N163m in outstanding payments. It remains to be seen whether the university's management will take concrete steps to address these issues and bring its salary structure into compliance with government regulations.

The impact of salary disparities on staff at Abia State University cannot be overstated. Many lecturers are struggling to make ends meet, relying on personal savings, borrowing, rental income, and royalties from intellectual property to subsidize their work. In some cases, staff members have been forced to sell their cars or rely on public transportation due to the lack of financial resources. The situation is a stark reminder of the need for universities to prioritize the welfare of their staff and ensure that they are fairly compensated for their work.

This development highlights the need for universities to address salary disparities and ensure compliance with government-approved salary structures, as failure to do so may lead to employee dissatisfaction and potential legal action.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers