By LEONARD OKACHIE

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia has kicked against the suspension of Prof. Nnamdi Nweze of the Abia State University, Uturu, (ABSU) over his alleged critical stance against the State Government.

The party described Nweze’s suspension by the institution as ill-conceived and a punishment for speaking against the alleged injustice being meted out to civil servants in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Department of Economics’ lecturer was suspended on Thursday over his post on the social media, where he claimed that tricycle riders earn more than professors in ABSU.

Addressing newsmen on Friday in Umuahia, the APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Uche Aguoru, said Nweze’s only offence was speaking out against bad governance in Abia.

Aguoru said that the don had consistently raised concerns on social media against poor governance across past administrations.

He said that 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 N400,000 in 2026, using the 2009 salary structure.

Aguoru contended that while lecturers were paid with the 2009 structure, government taxed them with the 2024 tax regime.

He queried how the state expected quality service from lecturers earning less than N400,000, amid current economic realities in the country.

The APC spokesman, therefore, called on the State Government and ABSU management to recall 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 that Abia people deserve justice, accountability, transparency and respect for human dignity.

Aguoru urged government to stop the use of “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 Nweze.

Aguoru further said it was “wickedness for government to owe retirees up to 30 months in an era of improved allocations”.

He alleged that the state was receiving a minimum of N40 billion to N60 billion monthly from federal allocation 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”.

Aguoru regretted that in 2026, some civil servants in the state still earned between N30,000 and N40,000 monthly.

He urged government to be empathetic and show mercy to workers and retirees, who served the state meritoriously.

On party matters, Aguoru said that APC had set up a disciplinary committee to address anti-party comments by some of its leaders in Abia.

He cited remarks by Sen. Orji Kalu on a national television,.where he predicted victory for the Labour Party governor in 2027.

Aguoru said that Kalu, representing Abia North, had been asked to explain to the disciplinary committee how the governor would win the poll.

He said that the party was also addressing comments by Rep. 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.

Aguoru said the party’s ongoing membership registration had recorded over 200,000 members and still counting. (NAN)

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