The House of Representatives has stepped into the alleged unlawful disengagement and payroll tampering affecting 127 staff members at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State.
This followed a formal petition presented on the floor of the House by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, the member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State.
The petition, brought on behalf of Unam-Okechukwu Henry Kelechi (Staff No: SS/4510) and 126 other affected employees, levelled serious allegations of administrative high-handedness and procedural breaches against the University’s management.
Presenting the document, Hon. Ogah urged the House to intervene in the matter to ensure that workers’ entitlements are fully paid, and their rights protected.
The petition which was formally laid on the table after presentation by Hon Ogah was consequently referred by the leadership of the House to the relevant standing committee for immediate legislative inquiry and further action.
Recall, the petitioners had gone ahead to disclose that they were duly recruited personnel who were abruptly removed from their posts without due process.
They further alleged that their records on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) payroll were illegally substituted to deny them their employment status.
The disengaged workers also accused the institution of withholding their salaries for five consecutive months prior to their termination.
Making further allegations, the petition claimed that campus security personnel were deployed to forcefully compel the affected staff to surrender their official identity cards and sign disengagement letters under duress.
