CALABAR, CROSS RIVER— The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) chapter, has actually declared a “overall and indefinite” strike action.
The commercial dispute comes from the non-implementation of internal well-being bundles and a failure by the authorities to adopt arrangements reached with the union’s nationwide body.
The statement was revealed on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in a statement signed by the UNICROSS ASUU Chairman, Dr Patrick Ushie.
The union suggested that all academic activities throughout the organization’s schools have actually been suspended following a complete breakdown of discussion with the university management and the state federal government.
The union has tabled an 11-item manifesto detailing the institutional failures that activated the strike.
Chief amongst these demands is the immediate combination of federal wage adjustments and the regularisation of third-party monetary deductions.
Read Likewise: ASUU warns of possible university crisis over delayed application of 2025 arrangement.
Key Demands of the Union:
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Salary Structure & Wage Awards: Immediate payment of impressive promo arrears and all overdue wage components, including the 35% and 25% wage award carried out across public universities given that January 2023.
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Made Academic Allowances: Settling impressive allowances accumulated from July 2011 to December 2017 under the historical 2009 FG-ASUU arrangement.
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Unremitted Check-off Dues: Immediate remittance of 11.9 million in outstanding check-off fees owed to the UNICROSS branch and nationwide body considering that 2017, alongside reductions from recent functional months.
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Financing and Prompt Payment: Surefire payment of month-to-month salaries no later than the 3rd day of each prospering month and a substantial increase in state financing for the organization.
The 200 Million Funding Deficit
Speaking on the development, Dr Ushie revealed that internal negotiations hit a wall because the university administration declared insolvency.
According to the union chairman, the management mentioned that their hands are tied by a strict budget plan ceiling. The university presently gets a monthly subvention of 300 million from the Cross River State Federal government, however needs an additional 200 million regular monthly to easily carry out the brand-new wage structures and well-being advantages.
“We also composed to the Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, and as we speak, he has actually not responded to our letter,” Dr Ushie stated. “Up until our demands are met in full, the commercial action stays overall and will continue forever.”
Efforts to reach the Vice-Chancellor of UNICROSS, Prof. Francesca Bassey, for a main reaction proved abortive, as she did not react to telephone call or media inquiries relating to the monetary deadlock.
The strike leaves thousands of undergraduates stranded mid-semester, threatening to disrupt the academic calendar of the state-owned institution.
With the doors of UNICROSS shut indefinitely, pressure is mounting on Governor Bassey Otu to step in directly in the funding disagreement.
The 200 million space, highlighting the management’s defence, will need a structural change in the state’s academic budgetary allotments if a drawn-out shutdown is to be prevented.
For now, the union remains undaunted, warning that no regional congress will be called to review the strike up until tangible financial commitments are made by the state government.