Workers disengaged from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) in Abia State have appealed to the university management for reinstatement, saying they remain committed to the institution despite their removal from service in 2017.
The former employees also denied claims that the university’s current Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ngozi Akanwa, played any role in their disengagement.
The workers had previously challenged their dismissal in court but later withdrew the case, according to sources.
In a statement signed by Reverend Ifeanyi Remy on behalf of the affected staff, they clarified that Prof. Akanwa was not responsible for either their removal or the university’s recent recruitment exercise.
According to the statement, the recruitment was carried out during the tenure of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, not under the current administration.
The disengaged workers alleged that the previous university management failed to consider their reinstatement after receiving approval to recruit additional staff.
They stated that when the university was granted a waiver to employ 426 workers, the administration should have first reinstated some of the affected employees, as they had expected.
The group specifically argued that about 150 of the disengaged staff should have been given priority before the recruitment of new workers.
