In reaction to the accusations by some disengaged newly recruited staff of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU, that their names were replaced by the new management of the University, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ursula Akanwa, has sounded it loud and clear that she had no role in the university’s last recruitment exercise.
Briefing newsmen on Tuesday, the Head of Public Relations and Protocol of the university, Mr Anyaso Anyaso, stated that the Vice Chancellor had in various fora emphatically stressed that the employment process including the capturing of staff for payroll was already concluded prior to her assuming duties on March 1, 2026.
“The crux of the matter is that the Federal Government gave a waiver for the recruitment of 426 staff, a figure which the Governing Council also approved and directed the then Vice-Chancellor/Management to strictly adhere to in conducting the employment exercise.
“Ironically, appointment letters were issued to 618 persons, while 553 were captured on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), which then uploaded only the 426 approved by the Federal Government and the Governing Council.
The University further pointed out that the Vice-Chancellor has no access to the GIFMIS platform to either remove or change any name uploaded as alleged by some of the affected staff who addressed the press on Monday.
While urging anyone making enquiries to seek information from the authorized University channels, enjoined members of the public and other stakeholders to disregard insinuations being peddled by mischief-makers.
On the allegations that force was used to retrieve the identity cards of the disengaged workers, the University Image maker said:
“MOUAU did not issue sack letters and did not use force to obtain their ID cards.”
