Abia Civil Servants, ABSU Lecturers Being Treated Like Semi-Beggars — Elder Victor Osinanwata.

Abia Civil Servants, ABSU Lecturers Being Treated Like Semi-Beggars — Elder Victor Osinanwata.

An Owaza international business man,Elder Victor K.N. also known as Osinanwata has criticised the Abia State Government over what he described as the deteriorating welfare of civil servants and lecturers at Abia State University (ABSU), saying the workforce has been reduced to the status of “semi-beggars.”

Osinanwata, in a statement, said it would amount to hypocrisy to celebrate the condition of Abia workers under the present administration, alleging that the reality faced by civil servants across the state differs significantly from the narrative being presented in the media.

According to him, despite claims that salary arrears have been cleared, some workers are still owed, while salary harmonisation, promotional entitlements and allowances remain outstanding.

“We have friends and relatives across the state civil service, and their testimonies are distressingly uniform. The narrative in the media is diametrically opposed to the lived reality on the ground,” he said.

He questioned the level of motivation among workers, asking what becomes of the dignity of labour when employees are allegedly left struggling to meet their basic needs.

Osinanwata also raised concerns over the welfare of lecturers at ABSU, describing the university as “our once citadel of learning, our pride, and the foremost state-owned university.”

He alleged that lecturers were facing outstanding allowances, inadequate welfare packages and unpaid professional fees.

He further claimed that some lecturers recruited since last year were yet to receive their first salaries, adding that the situation had affected academic activities in some departments.

“Most of them have not been paid for nine months counting,” he alleged, adding that in some departments, particularly Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, first-semester examinations had reportedly not been conducted because some lecturers who were allegedly owed had declined to set examinations.

According to him, the situation has contributed to declining academic delivery and low morale among staff.

“It is an aberration that a taxi driver now earns more than a senior lecturer in a state university. This is unconscionable,” Osinanwata said.

He also defended Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze, who was recently suspended by ABSU over alleged inflammatory social media posts, questioning the basis of the disciplinary action.

“Now, to the case of Prof. Nweze, my very good friend and senior brother, Nnamdi Nwaeze, what precisely is his offence?” he asked.

Osinanwata argued that Nwaeze should not be victimised for speaking about the remuneration and welfare of university lecturers.

“How can a Professor earn less than ₦400,000 per month? That is a travesty and a gross devaluation of intellectual labour and years of academic sacrifice,” he said.

He urged the authorities to focus on the underlying challenges affecting Abia’s educational institutions rather than victimising individuals who raise concerns about them.

Osinanwata also recalled Governor Alex Otti’s criticism of the previous administration, noting that workers’ welfare was a major part of the governor’s campaign message.

“Governor Otti Alex C. Otti was a vocal critic of the Ikpeazu administration. Workers’ welfare was a cardinal pillar of his campaign promises. What has changed?” he queried.

He alleged that the morale of workers was currently low and that many civil servants could not maintain a decent standard of living without relying on additional sources of income.

He warned that the welfare of lecturers has direct implications for the quality of education and the ability of the state to effectively prepare the next generation.

Osinanwata consequently appealed to the management of ABSU to reconsider and rescind the suspension of Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze.

He maintained that Nwaeze, like every Nigerian citizen, has the constitutional right to express his grievances, particularly where he believes he has been shortchanged or victimised.

“I, therefore, appeal to the management of ABSU to reconsider and rescind this purported suspension of an erudite Professor. He has the inalienable constitutional right as a Nigerian citizen to voice his grievances when shortchanged and victimized,” he said.

He called on the Abia State Government to respect freedom of expression and address what he described as fundamental welfare challenges confronting workers and the state’s educational institutions.