By Steve Oko For 16 long years after earning his degree from the Abia State University, Uturu, in 2010, Mr. Alexander Nwosu, a Person Living with Disability (PWD), searched for jobs and hopefully held firmly to one belief: that someday he would secure a job and life would smile on him. Despite living with a deformity in one of his legs, Nwosu who hails from Umuda Isingwu, Ohuhu Clan of Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, refused to surrender to despair. Rather than become dependent on charity, he sustained himself by raising and selling seedlings of different plants while searching for meaningful employment. That long-awaited opportunity finally came in 2025 when the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), advertised for vacancies. Like many hopeful applicants, Nwosu applied and was eventually offered employment as an Administrative Assistant Officer in February 2026. For him, it marked the end of years of uncertainty. Filled with excitement, he completed every requirement for the appointment, including medical fitness examinations and other documentations, before resuming duty. He was posted to the Pension Unit, Room 215, in the university’s administrative complex. Every working day, Nwosu climbed the stairs to the second floor despite his physical disability. The daily struggle never discouraged him because he believed the sacrifices would soon be rewarded with his first salary. To sustain himself, he told Vanguard that he even sold some of his personal gadgets to raise transportation fare to work, convinced that once salaries commenced, he would gradually recover from the financial strain. According to him, more than the income, the job represented dignity. It rekindled his hope of becoming financially independent, getting married and raising a family after years of waiting. Sadly that hope has now given way to uncertainty. Months after resuming work, Nwosu said he had yet to receive any salary. Instead, he said that he and several others recently received official letters from the university to stop work and their identity cards were retrieved from them. The development, according to him, followed a meeting where the affected workers were reportedly informed that the institution had been directed to revert to an approved employment quota. According to Nwosu, management explained that although 727 appointments had reportedly been made under the previous administration, the university was given approval to recruit 426 personnel. “The management told us their hands were tied because they had received directives from Abuja to work with the approved number,” Nwosu narrated with tears. Confused by the letter handed to him, Nwosu said he was unsure whether he had been disengaged or was expected to continue reporting for duty. “I don’t even understand what my status is – whether I have been sacked or if I am still a staff member. I am more confused because they have collected my ID card. I have not been paid since I started work. I want clarity and, above all, an opportunity to continue serving,” he said. A copy of the letter titled “RE: OFFER OF APPOINTMENT”, and sighted by our Correspondent read in part: “We refer to earlier correspondence to you on the above subject matter, dated 27th February, 2026 as well as subsequent GIFMIS enrollment exercise undertaken for the enrollment of appointees on the salary platform for the purpose of salary payment. “We regret to inform you that the above mentioned GIFMIS enrollment exercise resulted in your being adjudged “Surplus to Needs”. Therefore, your earlier appointment letter cannot be backed-up with salary payment. It is frustrated until further directives on the subject matter”. Nwosu, however, absolved the current management of the university of any wrongdoing but acknowledged that it had explained its constraints under which it was operating. He, therefore, made a passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Education, for their intervention. “I am appealing to Mr President to kindly consider my peculiar situation as a Person With Disability and direct that I be accommodated. I have searched for employment for 16 years after graduation. I don’t want to become a burden to society. I only want to work, earn an honest living and contribute my quota to the nation’s development. “My parents are late. I dream of getting married and raising my own family. Time is running out on me. I am now 45 and I struggled hard to go to university, hoping to have a better life. Returning to the labour market after finally believing I had secured a federal job is emotionally devastating.” Nwosu admitted that the prolonged uncertainty has taken a heavy emotional toll on him. “There are moments when hopeless thoughts come, but I reject them and continue praying that God will touch the h
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