About 127 disengaged staff of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) have appealed to the Federal Government over alleged unlawful sack after working five months without salaries.
Addressing journalists in Umuahia on Monday, spokesperson for the group, Mr Ejike Eze, said the workers were recruited following a vacancy advertisement by the university in Oct. 2025.
According to him, applicants applied online, submitted all required documents, and received appointment letters with resumption dates starting Jan. 2026.
He said that they were also directed to submit handwritten acceptance letters.
Eze said the workers later reported for documentation and biometric capture on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System.
He alleged that the exercise was delayed because only three officials came from Abuja to conduct it, forcing many applicants to spend weeks in Umudike, with some sleeping in university halls.
“Several of us resigned from our previous jobs after receiving appointment letters, believing we had secured permanent employment.
“This assurance was given by the university management under the new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ursula Akanwa,” he said.
The group also recounted a tragic incident allegedly linked to the recruitment.
According to them, one of their colleagues relocated to Umudike for the job.
“While his family was traveling from Lagos to join him, they were involved in a fatal accident that claimed the lives of three children, while his wife survived with severe injuries,” Eze said.
Eze further alleged that after resuming and being posted to various departments, the workers served for about five months without pay.
He said that during a meeting on May 5, at Trinity Hall, Akanwa directed those who had not completed biometric capture to proceed to Abuja.
However, he alleged that they they told in Abuja that a reference letter from the VC was required, which was never issued.
“About 553 staff completed the biometric capture, but only 426 were uploaded for payment. No clear criteria were given for the selection,” Eze alleged.
Eze claimed that at a subsequent meeting, they were told that only those who received salaries should consider themselves retained.
He alleged that one month’s salary was paid to the 426 staff in July, while the rest were asked to stop coming to work.
Eze also alleged that during documentation, management collected N6,000 and N8,000 respectively for staff ID cards and medical certificates, paid into the university bursary account.
He said they were assembled by the VC and principal officers and asked to surrender their identity cards on July 16.
Eze alleged that the venue at Anyim Pius Square was locked by security personnel and staff were pressured to sign termination forms.
“Some of us managed to leave with our ID cards.
“Many surrendered theirs under pressure, with no assurance of receiving our five months’ salaries despite earlier submitting forms with our account details,” he added.
The affected workers are now calling on the Federal Government, National Assembly, Nigeria Labour Congress, Academic Staff Union of Universities, and human rights bodies to investigate the matter.
They insist they accepted the appointments in good faith, abandoned stable jobs, relocated families, and served diligently, noting that a recent staff appraisal commended their performance.
It was gathered that the recruitment was initiated shortly before the end of the tenure of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, with approval reportedly granted for 426 staff.
However, the current Vice-Chancellor, Akanwa, had earlier distanced her administration from the exercise, stating that the process was concluded before she assumed office.
She reportedly advised applicants who did not receive their first salary to understand that they were not among the 426 personnel approved for employment.
Reacting to the allegations, Mr Anyaso Anyaso, Head of Public Relations and Protocol of MOUAU said the institution was not aware of the matter.
He added that the university had not received any formal petition from the affected persons or group.
“We are not aware of their claims. There are no claims because they have not written to the school,” Anyaso said.
