CALABAR — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) branch, has demanded the payment of over ₦1 billion in outstanding promotion arrears and earned academic allowances as part of conditions for suspending its newly declared indefinite strike action.
The union made the demand in its “Strike Bulletin No. 1” issued on Tuesday and signed by the Branch Chairperson, Comrade Patrick Ushie.
According to the bulletin, the strike commenced on May 19, 2026, following what the union described as the failure of the university management, governing council and government to implement provisions of the renegotiated 2025 Federal Government/ASUU agreement and other pending demands.
ASUU specifically demanded the payment of outstanding promotion arrears amounting to ₦1,006,355,080.79, alongside earned academic allowances valued at ₦45 million accrued between July 2011 and December 2017 under the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement.
The union also called for the immediate implementation of the 2025 salary structure and welfare packages for academic staff, including CATA, EAA and professional allowances, with payment of all accrued arrears dating back to January 2026.
Other demands listed by the union include increased government funding for the institution, prompt monthly salary payments, settlement of unpaid wage award arrears since January 2023, and remittance of various deductions allegedly owed staff and the union.
According to ASUU, unpaid check-off dues owed the branch and national body since 2017 amount to over ₦11.8 million, while cooperative deductions owed stand at ₦69 million.
The union further alleged that National Housing Fund deductions made since 2018 had not been remitted to the Federal Mortgage Bank.
ASUU directed its members to withdraw from all academic activities, including teaching, senate meetings, faculty board meetings and departmental meetings, describing the strike as “total and indefinite.”
“This strike is total and indefinite,” the bulletin stated, adding that only research and community service activities would continue during the period.
The development is expected to disrupt academic activities at the University of Cross River State, with students likely to be affected by the suspension of lectures and administrative processes.
As of the time of filing this report, the university management had not officially responded to the strike declaration and the allegations raised by the union.
