THERE are strong indications that some academic and non-academic staff of Imo State University, IMSU, Owerri, may lose their jobs, following a directive from Governor Rochas Okorocha, that staff employed without appropriate waivers be disengaged immediately.

The Governor through a memo, GH/PL/S.164/XXII/331, addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the institution and signed by his Principal Secretary, Dr. paschal C. Obi, directed that staff employed without appropriate waivers be disengaged immediately.

According to the memo, “I am directed to refer to the above subject matter (Disengagement of staff employed without appropriate waiver) and to convey the directive of the Executive Governor of Imo State, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, for the immediate disengagement of all staff, both academic and non-academic, engaged by the Imo State University without appropriate waivers.”

While warning that “this is the last and final directive on this issue”, the Governor equally directed IMSU management to “take urgent steps to implement” his directive.

In a move to implement the directive, the Acting Registrar of IMSU, Mr. A. N. Igbojekwe, has written all heads of department and deans of schools on the issue of appointments.

The memo dated July 29, 2013, made it clear that “all those who were converted and whose conversions were put on hold, are required to apply for appointment to the posts the deem themselves qualified for”.

The Acting Registrar referred to a recent advertisement for academic staff vacancies and stressed “the need to provide an opportunity for those, who would have had their appointments terminated based on the deemed irregularities, having been done in the absence of council or waiver from government”, to re-apply.

The above mentioned group of people should please apply formally so as to be subjected to due process. Failure to comply would lead to the termination of their current appointments.”

It was gathered that most of the affected staff were engaged ahead of the recent accreditation exercise carried out by the National Universities Commission, NUC.