Waves of apprehension is sweeping through the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike as the authorities compile names of staff to be served with sack letters. 

 With the expected shut down of over ten Departments in Three Colleges at the Michael Okpara University, Umudike, Abia State, the school authorities say over 5,000 workers at the university may be rendered redundant.

 The affected colleges include College of Management Sciences and College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, amongst others

 Sources, quoting Prof. Francis Otunta, MOUAU's Vice-Chancellor said the retrenchment would begin with immediate effect owing to dwindling allocation occasioned by the gradual shut down of the departments.

 Prof. Otunta reportedly told the university community at a 'Family Meeting', that currently the university is battling to manage its meagre fund, and not in a position to shoulder the burden of staff that may be rendered redundant by the shut down of the departments

 Already, JAMB did not list courses in the College of Management Sciences for the 2017/2018 academic session, a development that may affect students intake.

* Ogbeh 
Efforts by theledgerng.com to confirm the development met brickwall in the office of the VC.

 It will be recalled that between late last year and early this year, Chief Audu  Ogbeh, the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development took  a 419 proposal to the Federal Executive Council, FEC meeting, arguing that there will be revolution in agriculture if the three Federal Universities at Umudike, Abeokuta and Makurdi are handed over to FMARD. And only students interested in studying agricultural science and related courses would henceforth be admitted into the universities. 

 A committee is was set up to work on the implementation. Part of the proposals include  establishing  a National Commission for Agricultural Univerisities, similar to National Universities Commission, NUC

 At a stakeholders meeting Ogbeh held with Vice-Chancellors and Governing Boards of the  universities in Abuja,  the Minister was quoted as saying at that: “Henceforth, students who are not interested in becoming farmers  should be  made to seek admission elsewhere. “We are determined to offer you (the universities), the necessary  support for your  transformation, for research for a healthier realm of discovery and self-actualisation,’’ the minister said.

  Ogbeh said the Federal Government’s decision to relocate its three Universities of Agriculture from the Federal Ministry of Education to Agriculture, was to refocus the schools as globally acclaimed citadels to move the agriculture sector forward. 

 He assured the universities that the government would actively support them by providing funds and grants to assist in research to move the agriculture sector forward.