Professor Nnamdi Chinwendu Nwaeze holds three degrees in economics, all with distinction. When, on August 11, 2026, lecturers of the Abia State University, ABSU, where he professes, went on strike, he applied his economics profession by comparing the N400,000 some of the lecturers are paid with the income of the commercial tricyclist who makes an average N15,000 daily. His simple calculation was that the tricyclist, who requires no educational qualification for his work beyond riding skill, earns more than a lecturer with multiple degrees. Yet the lecturer is entrusted with developing the intellectual, educational, social and moral future of Abia youths and, by extension, that of Nigerian and African youths. He also said in the same Abia State a local government councillor, who may not have a basic high school certificate, earns about N600,000 monthly. Professor Nwaeze also noted that: “A House of Assembly member earns about N8 million net salary in Abia State. Most appointees of this government can pay the salary of a professor and still have enough to take care of their families and personal needs.” In contrast with the pittance being paid in ABSU, he stated that professors in all the federal and most state universities earn between N1.3m to N1.4m monthly salary. In describing the near-slavery state of the academics in ABSU, Nwaeze revealed that some of the lecturers had not been paid for as long as forty-four months while those promoted between 2023 and 2026 had not received salaries reflecting their new ranks. He further claimed that the lecturers in ABSU had never received Earned Academic Allowances, while about N163 million in cooperative deductions was owed by the government and that union dues remitted by the government were not being paid to their union, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. The conclusion of the economist is that the lecturers, many of whom cannot send their children to the university due to the poverty state they had been reduced to, are in reality subsidizing the state government in carrying out their functions. The professor appealed that: “All men of good conscience should plead with the Abia State government to pay ASUU-ABSU staff their due pay and end this strike within the shortest time.” All issues raised by Nwaeze are verifiable; his method constructive; the tone respectful and reconciliatory. No sensible person would take offence. But not the authorities of ABSU led by the vice-chancellor Ndukwe James Okeudo, an animal scientist who was appointed by the state governor, Alex Otti, on November 1, 2024. Okeudo, whose office claims is transforming ABSU: “into a hub of academic excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship (and) empowering the next generation of leaders to drive Nigeria’s rapid development,” immediately suspended Professor Nwaeze. This was without following the processes and procedures of the ABSA edict, without issuing him queries, giving him a chance to defend himself or presuming the lecturer innocent until proven guilty as is constitutionally required. The ABSU spokesman, Chijioke Nwogu, who also doubles as the deputy registrar, said the action was taken due to the: “various social media posts attributed to Professor Nwaeze, which is inimical to the interests of the University and uncomplimentary to the Visitor of the University (Governor Alex Otti).” The university did not disclose the social media posts allegedly made by Nwaeze and who attributed them to him. It also did not disclose why it decided to deny the lecturer his freedom of expression. But after assuming Nwaeze is guilty as charged even when no charges have been brought against him, the Okeudo gang, perhaps as an afterthought, added that it had: “constituted an Investigative Panel to consider the matter (but) The suspension takes immediate effect pending the outcome of the investigation by the Panel.” However, if the Okeudo regime thought it could cow the lecturer by bullying him, it is mistaken. Rather than back down, Nwaeze doubled down, stating: “In life, somebody must pay the price for the liberation of others… Don’t sympathize with me; instead, direct your sympathy to the paymasters.” It is incredible that a university with a law faculty and a former speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Honourable Agwu N. Agwu, as pro-chancellor can degenerate to this level of lawlessness. The lecturers in ABSU are partly to blame for their state; how can they be owed 17–44 months’ salary and still be working? How were they taking care of themselves and their families? Any wonder some 85 percent of them had abandoned their cars because they could neither afford the high fuel costs nor maintenance. They have, in my view, been silent when they should have spoken out. For instance, when Vice-Chancellor Okeudo claimed in March 2026 during a press conference on the 30th, 31st and 32nd combined convocation that Governor Otti
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