UMUAHIA — As controversy continues to trail the recent recruitment exercise at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU, some of the 127 disengaged staff have declared the process illegal and are demanding immediate reinstatement by the university authorities.
Addressing the press in Umuahia on Monday, the affected staff, speaking through their spokesperson, Comrade Engr. Eze Ejikeme, described the disengagement as an injustice.
“It is unfortunate that a process that cost us so much in time and resources has turned out this way,” Ejikeme said. “We were wrongly disengaged after receiving appointment letters and staff ID cards.”
”The Process Was Poorly Organised”
According to him, the recruitment exercise lasted about three weeks and was poorly coordinated.
“The process was poorly organised. There was only one computer available for capturing, which resulted in long delays. The exercise lasted for approximately three weeks, forcing many applicants to sleep in halls on campus, while others who lived outside Umudike had to pay for hotel accommodation throughout the exercise.
“They captured us. But we are sensing that the new administration substituted the names of some new staff. The immediate past VC got a waiver to employ. That is why we are calling on Nigerians to come to our aid and assist us with reinstatement.
“Because it is our right. We are Nigerians. It is our right. We legally got the job and we merited it. That is our predicament at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, 2026,” he said.
“Allegations of Coercion”
Ejikeme said the disengaged staff are not seeking compensation, but full reinstatement with all salaries and emoluments. He insisted their credentials met the required standard.
He further alleged that during a meeting with the Vice Chancellor and her team, they were made to submit their staff ID cards and sign documents under duress.
“At the end of the day, those who submitted their ID cards were asked to go to one side and the hall was locked. They were coerced to sign a letter of disengagement. Security men snatched their ID cards from them. If you said you wanted to ease yourself, they would say no, go and sit back.
“But those who submitted their ID cards were forced to sign the disengagement letter. That was the condition we, the new recruitment staff of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, 2026, found ourselves. That is why we are calling for help from Nigerians,” he alleged.
”We Lost Jobs, Relatives”
Other affected staff, including Roseline Okpechi and Nwaike Gospel, said their condition had become hopeless.
They said they were duly captured on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, GIFMIS, and issued appointment letters and ID cards, and wondered why they were being punished after completing all processes.
“Is this fair? How can the management of MOUAU decide to treat us in this manner after passing through all these processes? We are not asking for compensation. We are asking for our rights. We applied for the job, we were duly employed. Why have they decided to disengage us now after passing through the difficult process?
“Some of us lost relatives during the process. Others resigned from their previous jobs,” they said.
The staff called for justice and vowed to take necessary steps to ensure the injustice is reversed.
Newsbuka recalls that the recruitment at MOUAU has been controversial. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, maintains that the immediate past administration recruited beyond the number approved by authorities.
Sources within the university told Newsbuka that the disengagement exercise was aimed at regularising the staff strength to the 426 positions approved by the Federal Government, out of the 553 candidates that were captured.
MOUAU Recruitment Controversy: Disengaged Staff Demand Reinstatement, Call Process “Illegal”
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