By Ehigimetor Igbaugba
The University of Cross River chapter of the Academy Staff Union of University (ASUU) says it will meet with the state government over the ongoing industrial action embarked upon since May 19.
The institution’s ASUU chairman, Dr Patrick Ushie, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Calabar on Tuesday.
He disclosed that the union had received an invitation for a meeting from the technical committee set up by the government on the matter, adding that the committee had earlier requested documents on their grievances.
“These documents were submitted today (Tuesday), and we are preparing for the meeting before the week runs out.
“I am sure the documents are meant to prepare them for the planned meeting,” Ushie said.
On the possibility of suspending the strike after the meeting, he said, “It is all we pray and hope for, just like them”.
The chairman however, vowed that the industrial action would continue until the state government addressed the issues in contention.
“All I can tell you is that there is no backing down on the strike until our demands are fully met by the government,” he said.
Ushie told NAN that the union took the decision to embark on the industrial action following the breakdown of dialogue with the management of the institution.
According to him, several meetings held with the management failed to produce any result.
“They (management) told us that their hands are tied as they don’t have the funds to implement our demands.
“They also told us that they currently receive N300 million as subvention from the government and will need an additional N200 million to meet our demands.
“We wrote to the governor and as we speak, he has not responded to our letter since we did.”
NAN recalls that the UniCross chapter of ASUU had on May 19 embarked on an indefinite strike over issues bordering on welfare and non-implementation of agreement reached with the national body.
The union had listed 11 items as the reason for embarking on the industrial action.
According to the union, the total and indefinite strike is in view of the failure of the state government to implement salary structure and other welfare benefits of academic staff.
Among the demands listed by the union is that the non-financial components of the 2025 ASUU-FG renegotiate agreement be implemented without delay.
It also demanded increased government funding to the university and prompt payment of monthly salaries in the institution not later than the third of each succeeding month.
The union further asked that all unpaid salaries and arrears of 25 and 35 per cent wage award implemented in public universities since January 2023 be paid without further delay.
“All understanding arrears of check-off dues owed ASUU-UniCross branch and ASUU national from 2017 amounting to N11.9 million, as well as current deductions for two months (December 2024 and November 2025) should be remitted without further delayed.
“Outstanding promotion arrears and earned academic allowances accrued from July 2011 to December 2017 of the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement should be paid to eligible staff,” the union had said.
NAN also recalls that Gov. Bassey Otu had on June 17 approved the constitution of a seven-member technical committee for the institution.
The committee is to undertake a comprehensive review of the working environment at the university in a move aimed at strengthening the institution and enhancing its capacity for academic excellence.
The seven-member committee under the leadership of Prof. Uduak Effiong is also mandated to engage relevant university authorities, staff unions and other stakeholders with a view to identifying, clarifying and resolving outstanding labour-related issues affecting the institution.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)