Hundreds of non-academic staff recruited by the University of Calabar during its 2019/2020 recruitment exercise may soon be reinstated and placed on the payroll following a directive from the House of Representatives mandating their immediate absorption and salary payment
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The Punch reported that the resolution came after lawmakers adopted the recommendations of the House Committee on Public Petitions, chaired by Bitrus Kwamoti, a member representing Michika/Madagali Federal Constituency of Adamawa State.
The decision represents a major breakthrough in a long-running dispute that has persisted for years, leaving many affected workers unpaid despite claims that they were properly recruited and completed all necessary documentation.
The affected employees had earlier petitioned the House of Representatives, alleging that although they were duly employed by the university, they were left out of the payroll system and denied salaries.
They told lawmakers that the situation had caused severe hardship for them and their families, as they continued to work without pay despite meeting all employment conditions.
In response, the House summoned the then Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Florence Obi, to explain the circumstances surrounding the recruitment process and why the workers were excluded from payroll.
Following the intervention, the university was directed to harmonise and process the list of affected staff for inclusion.
However, the petitioners later claimed that only academic staff from the same recruitment exercise were captured on the payroll, while non-academic staff were still excluded.
Relief appeared on the horizon after the House Committee on Public Petitions concluded its investigation and submitted its report, which was adopted by the Green Chamber last week.
The adopted recommendations directed the management of the University of Calabar to immediately regularise the appointments of all affected staff based on a verified list of 385 employees submitted to the committee.
Lawmakers further instructed the university to issue staff numbers to the workers and forward their details for enrollment on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, the Federal Government’s central payroll platform for federal institutions.
The latest intervention is expected to bring long-awaited relief to the affected employees, many of whom have spent years seeking recognition and payment of their entitlements.
It also highlights the oversight role of the National Assembly in resolving employment and payroll disputes in federal institutions, especially where workers claim exclusion despite fulfilling recruitment requirements.
While the university management has yet to officially respond to the resolution, stakeholders are closely monitoring how quickly the directives will be implemented and whether the affected staff will finally be integrated into the federal payroll system.
