Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, has escalated disciplinary proceedings against Professor Nnamdi Chinwendu Nwaeze, weeks after his suspension over social media comments concerning the welfare and remuneration of academic staff was lifted.
Nwaeze, a Professor of Economics, is scheduled to appear before the university’s Governing Council Staff Disciplinary Committee at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 2, 2026.
The development follows a September 30 memo signed by the Acting Registrar of the university, Dr. (Mrs.) J.C. Nwankwo, inviting the professor to appear before the committee at the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room.
The latest proceeding comes after an earlier investigative process into allegations described by the university as “Duty Abscondment and Social Media Commentaries against the interest of the University.”
Nwaeze was initially suspended by ABSU in August 2026 following social media posts in which he criticised what he described as poor welfare and remuneration of lecturers at the institution.
The university said at the time that the posts attributed to the professor were considered “inimical to the interests of the University and uncomplimentary to the Visitor of the University,” and announced the constitution of an investigative panel.
In his posts, Nwaeze alleged that some academic staff were receiving low salaries, that promotion-related salary adjustments and other entitlements were outstanding, and that lecturers were being paid under an outdated salary structure. These claims were attributed to Nwaeze and have not been independently established in the reports reviewed.
His suspension subsequently became an issue during the industrial dispute involving the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ABSU branch (ASUU-ABSU). The union had demanded his recall while also pursuing outstanding welfare issues.
The university later lifted Nwaeze’s suspension following pressure from the ASUU-ABSU branch, but the internal investigation was reportedly allowed to continue.
The latest disciplinary proceedings also come against the backdrop of Governor Alex Otti’s August 28, 2026 apology over the ABSU strike. Otti said the industrial action was avoidable and acknowledged that the demands presented by the lecturers were legitimate, while attributing delays in implementation to bureaucratic and administrative bottlenecks.
Meanwhile, supporters of Nwaeze have disputed the allegation of duty abscondment, maintaining that he carried out his academic responsibilities, including teaching, submission of students’ results and project supervision.
They have also questioned whether the continuing disciplinary process is connected to his public criticism of lecturers’ working conditions.
However, ABSU has not publicly disclosed the outcome of its investigation into the professor’s social media posts or provided a detailed public explanation of the duty-abscondment allegation.
The Governing Council Staff Disciplinary Committee is expected to consider the matter when Nwaeze appears before it on Friday.
By Enitan Mudashiru | MUK TV News
