Ohanaeze Ndigbo condemns mass sack at Okpara varsity

www.odogwublog.com reports that as condemnation and public outcry continue to trail the recent disengagement of over 400 staff of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike ( MOUAU) , Abia State, the youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has described the action as " callous and ill - timed".

 Ohanaeze Youth Council ( OYC) argued that the action was more provocative considering that MOUAU is the only federal tertiary institution in Abia State.

The incumbent  Vice- Chancellor, Professor Francis  Otunta had accused his predecessor, Professor Hilary Edeoga of over staffing the university, complaining that the available funds are no longer enough to pay salaries, hence the retrenchment.

But OYC argued that instead of sacking the affected staff considering the harsh economic situation in the country, the current management of the institution should have "discovered and apply the magic used by the Edeoga-led administration" to run the university.

 “Considering the times and the economic hardship in the country at the moment, it becomes ridiculous to imagine that any reasonable government would lay off it’s citizens into yet the labour market", Ohanaeze said.

OYC in a press statement signed by its President, Abia State chapter, Comrade Okey Nwankwo, rejected the mass retrenchment and  called for its  immediate reversal.

The statement read in part: “We are shocked by the sudden news of the recent sack of indigenous and non indigenous staff of Michael Okpara University, Umudike who are predominantly of Igbo extraction  for no fault of their own.

"It calls for attention and we are rejecting the decision of the governing council in it’s entirety.

" We see the  action of the University management as inhuman considering that most of the affected workers were not given fair hearing.

OYC further regretted  that the sacked workers would add to the growing number of unemployed population in South East and urged stakeholders in the zone to rise against the action.

It wondered why the mass sack would be witnessed in the only federal institution in Abia State while no similar incident was recorded in any part of the country, alleging a foul play.

“In recent times, such mass sack has never happened to other region of the nation and coming at a time when there is heightened cry of marginalization in the country, it certainly does not speak well of the unity of the Nation.

"The present administration in the country notwithstanding it’s focus on youth empowerment and employment and curbing youth restiveness through gainful employment, it is unimaginable that the same government would turn against it’s own policy”

OYC warned that delay in reversing the action could lead to breakdown of law and order , vowing to resist any attempt to unnecessarily victimise indigenes of the state.
 
" We want Prof. Francis Otunta to immediately revise the order because Ohaneze Ndi Igbo Abia state will resist any attempt to victimize indigenes of the state. 

“We are equally calling on Abia state Government, Governor Okezie  Ikpeazu,   South East Governor’s Forum, prominent sons and daughters of Igbo extraction , all patriotic Nigerians and the Nigeria Labour congress to swiftly intervene in this injustice and forestall any possible further breakdown of law and order that may arise from this action.”