…demand immediate reversal
By Our Correspondent
The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) has strongly condemned Abia State University, Uturu, for suspending Professor Nnamdi Chinwendu Nwaeze of the Department of Economics, describing the action as “victimization” and a direct attack on academic freedom.
In a press statement signed by its President, Dr. Stephen Nwala, and Secretary-General, Dr. Uzor Ngoladi, and released on Thursday, FOSAD rejected the university management’s decision, which was announced on August 13, 2026, following a Facebook post by Prof. Nwaeze that criticized staff welfare in the institution.
According to FOSAD, the professor’s post highlighted several long-standing issues affecting lecturers and other staff at ABSU, including poor remuneration, unpaid entitlements, unimplemented salary structures, outstanding promotion arrears and deductions, and the general condition of academic staff. In one widely quoted line, Prof. Nwaeze stated that tricycle operators, popularly known as Keke riders, earn more than professors in ABSU.
FOSAD said it views the suspension as an infringement on the fundamental right to freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The group argued that universities, by their very nature, must remain spaces for open debate and critical inquiry.
“A university is not a military barracks or a political institution where dissenting opinions are suppressed,” the statement read. “A citadel of learning such as ABSU ought to be a bastion of intellectual freedom where academics can freely interrogate policies, cross-fertilize ideas and contribute to public discourse for the betterment of society. Silencing scholars through suspension sends a dangerous signal to the academic community and undermines the culture of critical inquiry that universities are meant to nurture.”
The forum maintained that rather than punish the messenger, the university management should have engaged constructively with the issues raised. It described Prof. Nwaeze as an “erudite scholar” who courageously drew public attention to matters that directly affect teaching, research and the overall stability of the university.
“His post raised serious allegations regarding lecturers’ salaries, unpaid promotion arrears, unimplemented salary structures, outstanding deductions and poor staff welfare,” FOSAD noted. “These are substantive issues that deserve urgent investigation and remedial action, not punitive measures against the messenger.”
FOSAD expressed concern that the suspension could create a chilling effect across the university system, discouraging other academics from speaking out on matters of public interest. It stressed that higher institutions thrive only when scholars can speak truthfully without fear of persecution.
In response, the group has made three key demands. First, it called on the management and Governing Council of Abia State University to “immediately reverse the suspension of Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze and restore him to his duties without any form of discrimination.”
Second, FOSAD urged the Visitor to ABSU and Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, to urgently intervene. The forum acknowledged Governor Otti’s developmental strides but warned that allowing the suspension to stand “may unnecessarily tarnish his image as the Best Performing Governor in the South-East geopolitical zone.”
Third, FOSAD called on the Abia State Government to address the welfare concerns raised by members of ASUU-ABSU and to initiate meaningful dialogue with the union to resolve the ongoing industrial dispute. It said such engagement is critical “in the interest of students, staff and the future of education in the state.”
The group concluded by declaring solidarity with Prof. Nwaeze and “all academics who continue to defend truth, justice, academic freedom and institutional integrity.”
The suspension has already sparked reactions among staff and students at ABSU, with many citing growing frustration over unpaid allowances and deteriorating working conditions. ASUU-ABSU has in recent months raised similar concerns over welfare and funding, warning that the university risks losing quality staff if nothing is done.
As of press time, the management of Abia State University has not issued a further statement beyond the suspension notice. Efforts to reach the university’s Public Relations Officer for comments were unsuccessful.
Education stakeholders in the South-East say the case will test the commitment of state-owned universities to uphold constitutional rights while managing internal dissent. For FOSAD, the message is clear: universities must protect debate, not punish it.
