Disabled University Worker Appeals to Tinubu After Six Months Without Salary

A physically challenged man, Alexander Nwosu, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Education to intervene after he was asked to stop work at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), despite working for six months without receiving a salary.

Nwosu, a graduate of Abia State University, Uturu, said he spent 16 years searching for employment after graduating in 2010. He eventually secured employment as an Administrative Assistant Officer at MOUAU in February 2026.

He said he completed the required documentation and medical examinations before resuming duty at the university’s Pension Unit. Despite having a deformity in one of his legs, Nwosu said he climbed the stairs to the second floor every day to report for work.

According to him, he even sold some of his personal belongings to raise transportation money, believing that he would eventually receive his salary.

However, months after resuming work, Nwosu said he and other newly recruited workers were issued letters directing them to stop work, while their identity cards were collected.

The letter reportedly stated that a Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) exercise had classified him as “Surplus to Needs”, meaning his appointment could not be supported with salary payment pending further directives.

Nwosu said he was confused about his employment status because the university had neither formally dismissed him nor continued paying him.

«“I have not been paid since I started work. I want clarity and, above all, an opportunity to continue serving,” he said.»

He appealed to President Tinubu to consider his situation as a person living with disability and allow him to continue working.

Nwosu said he had spent 16 years looking for employment and hoped the job would enable him to become financially independent, get married and raise a family.

“I am not asking for charity. I only want to work, earn an honest living and contribute my quota to the nation’s development,” he said.

University Says Workers Were Not Sacked

The university management said the affected workers had not been formally dismissed.

The University Registrar, Dr. Nkeiruka Mbanaso, explained that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) was responsible for capturing newly recruited workers on the Federal Government payroll.

She said officials from the Accountant General’s Office conducted the staff-capturing exercise at the university and uploaded the names to GIFMIS. However, some workers who were reportedly captured did not appear on the final payroll list.

Mbanaso said the university was seeking clarification from Abuja to determine why some names were omitted.

She added that affected workers were advised to stop reporting for duty temporarily because it would be unfair for them to continue working without receiving salaries.

Former Abia SSG Calls for Presidential Intervention

A former Secretary to the Abia State Government, Dr. Eme Okoro, has also appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and ensure that the affected workers are captured on the Federal Government payroll.

Okoro described the situation as painful, saying the workers had accepted their appointments in good faith and worked for months without pay.

He urged the President to restore hope to the affected workers and consider expanding MOUAU into a conventional university, which he said could create opportunities for additional staff and students.

Meanwhile, David Anyaele, Special Assistant to the Abia State Governor on Persons Living with Disability, urged the Federal Government to give special consideration to qualified persons with disabilities during recruitment.

He said Abia State’s disability law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment and provides for special consideration and priority during recruitment exercises.

For Nwosu, the immediate priority remains securing the opportunity to continue working and earning a living with dignity after 16 years of searching for employment.

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