A senior lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, Dr. Philips Nto, has resigned from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), citing a lack of transparency, inclusiveness, and fairness in the union’s activities.
Dr. Nto, who serves as the Director of the Agribusiness Incubation Centre at MOUAU and is a former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in Abia State, expressed deep concern that the university’s ASUU chapter has allegedly been hijacked by self-serving individuals who now run it “like a cult group.”
In a resignation letter addressed to the institution’s ASUU chapter and copied to the union’s leadership, Dr. Nto accused the executive members of using the association to sabotage the career progression of members they perceive as “outsiders,” rather than advancing the welfare of all members.
He referenced a personal experience in which ASUU MOUAU allegedly petitioned against his promotion to the rank of professor, describing it as a reflection of “internal contradictions and personal vendettas” within the union.
Dr. Nto also alleged discrimination in the recent disbursement of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA). According to him, while many of his colleagues received between ₦800,000 and ₦1 million, he was paid only ₦267,992 without any explanation. “My protest letter on the matter remains unanswered,” he said.
Highlighting his long-standing contributions to the union — including an unrepaid loan of ₦250,000 from 2013 — Dr. Nto lamented that he had gained nothing from ASUU despite years of financial commitment. He has since requested that the university management stop deducting union dues from his salary.
Efforts to reach the MOUAU ASUU chairman, Prof. Chike Ugwuene, for comments were unsuccessful. However, a member of the union, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that Dr. Nto had recently returned from secondment at the Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, where he enjoyed certain benefits. The source added that although the university management granted him a promotion to professor upon his return, the ASUU chapter opposed it through a petition.
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