The management of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, has defended the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, against allegations surrounding the Institution's controversial recruitment exercise, attributing the crisis instead to the immediate past administration for exceeding the approved recruitment quota.

The University's Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Mr Anyaso Anyaso, addressing journalists in Umudike, described attempts to link the current Vice Chancellor to the controversy as deliberate misinformation. He explained that the recruitment exercise, including payroll capture, had already been concluded before Akanwa assumed office on 1st March, 2026.

According to Anyaso, the Federal Government 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. He stated that the previous administration allegedly exceeded that limit by issuing appointment letters to 618 persons, while 553 names were eventually submitted for capture on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System.

The Federal Government's payroll system recognised only the 426 positions officially approved by the Federal Government and the Governing Council, Anyaso noted, leaving the additional recruits outside the approved payroll. He added that capture of successful candidates on the Federal Government payroll was handled by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation through the platform, and not by the University.

The management also dismissed claims that Akanwa removed names from the Federal Government payroll, stressing that the Vice Chancellor has no access to the platform and therefore cannot upload, delete or alter employees' records. "The Vice Chancellor has repeatedly stated that the recruitment exercise, including payroll capture, had already been concluded before she assumed office. Anyone seeking explanations should direct their enquiries to those who conducted the exercise," Anyaso stated.

The clarification follows concerns raised by affected workers who claimed they were recruited in February 2026 and had been working without salaries, alleging that their identity cards were retrieved during a meeting with University management last week and that they were issued fresh letters describing them as "Surplus to Needs."

The University denied dismissing any employee, maintaining that it was only complying with the approved staffing quota of 426 positions sanctioned by the Federal Government and the Governing Council. While expressing sympathy for the affected workers, the management said there were no budgetary provisions to accommodate salaries beyond the approved number of employees.