Abia State University Suspends Professor Over Facebook Claims About Lecturers’ Pay

Abia State University has suspended a lecturer, Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze, after he made claims on Facebook about the salaries earned by some professors at the institution.

Nwaeze, who teaches in the Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, alleged that some professors at Abia State University earn less than N400,000 each month.

He also claimed that some commercial tricycle operators, popularly known as Keke riders, earn more in total than professors at the university.

The university management responded by suspending the lecturer with immediate effect.

In a statement, the management said Nwaeze’s social media posts were “inimical” to the interests of the institution.

The suspension has now placed the professor under investigation as the university moves to establish the facts surrounding his claims.

According to the statement, the university has constituted an investigative panel to examine the matter.

The statement was signed by Chijioke Nwogu, the Public Relations Officer and Deputy Registrar of Abia State University.

The university did not provide further details about the specific claims it considered damaging to its interests.

Meanwhile, the development has drawn attention to the wider issue of university workers’ salaries and working conditions in Nigeria.

Lecturers and other academic staff have repeatedly raised concerns about pay, welfare and conditions of service across the country. However, claims about specific salaries require official evidence and should be independently verified.

For now, the investigative panel is expected to examine Professor Nwaeze’s statements and the circumstances surrounding his Facebook posts.

The outcome of the investigation could determine whether the suspension will lead to further disciplinary action or whether the matter will be resolved after the panel completes its work.