MOUAU addresses recruitment scandal, vindicates Vice Chancellor, shifts blame to previous regime

The management of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, has come to the defense of its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, in the face of allegations surrounding the institution's recruitment exercise, placing the blame on the previous administration for exceeding the approved recruitment quota.

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This excess, according to the university, led to the crisis, with the management emphasizing that Prof. Akanwa had no involvement in the recruitment process, which was concluded before she took office on March 1, 2026.

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The university clarified that the capture of successful candidates on the Federal Government payroll was handled by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, and not by the university itself.

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This clarification comes after concerns were raised by affected workers who were recruited in February 2026 and had been working without salaries, only to have their identity cards retrieved and be issued new letters describing them as "Surplus to Needs".

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Addressing journalists, the university's Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Mr. Anyaso Anyaso, described attempts to link the current Vice-Chancellor to the controversy as a deliberate spread of misinformation.

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According to Mr. Anyaso, the Federal Government had approved the recruitment of 426 staff, a figure also endorsed by the university's Governing Council, which directed the then management to adhere strictly to the approved quota.

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The previous administration, however, allegedly exceeded this limit by issuing appointment letters to 618 persons, with 553 names eventually submitted for capture on the GIFMIS platform.

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The Federal Government's payroll system recognized only the 426 positions officially approved, leaving the additional recruits outside the approved payroll.

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Mr. Anyaso stated that the Vice-Chancellor has repeatedly clarified that the recruitment exercise had already been concluded before she assumed office, and that anyone seeking explanations should direct their enquiries to those who conducted the exercise.

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The management also dismissed claims that Prof. Akanwa removed names from the Federal Government payroll, emphasizing that the Vice-Chancellor has no access to the GIFMIS platform and therefore cannot alter employees' records.

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The current administration, according to the management, merely inherited the consequences of a recruitment exercise conducted beyond the approved quota and should not be held responsible for decisions taken before Prof. Akanwa's appointment.

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The university urged the public to disregard what it described as false narratives aimed at tarnishing the image of the Vice-Chancellor, insisting that official records clearly absolve the current management of any wrongdoing.

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The university advised stakeholders to rely on official university communications and avoid spreading unverified information capable of misleading the public.

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The clarification comes amid public criticism over the alleged disengagement of 192 workers, which the university denied, explaining that it was only complying with the approved staffing quota of 426 positions sanctioned by the Federal Government and the Governing Council.

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While expressing sympathy for the affected workers, the management said there were no budgetary provisions to accommodate salaries beyond the approved number of employees.