…Lecturers return to classrooms as government moves to address 11 grievances over welfare, salary arrears
CALABAR – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) branch, has suspended its nearly two-month-old strike after the intervention of Governor Bassey Otu.
The development brings relief to thousands of students who have been out of school since the union declared a total and indefinite strike on May 19, 2026 .
…Why Lecturers Downed Tools
ASUU-UNICROSS embarked on the industrial action over 11 grievances relating to members’ welfare and the non-implementation of agreements reached with the Federal Government .
The union demanded the implementation of the salary structure and welfare benefits contained in the 2025 FG-ASUU renegotiated agreement, including Continuous Academic Training Allowance, Earned Academic Allowance, and professional allowances .
Other demands included:
– Increased government funding for the institution
– Prompt payment of monthly salaries not later than the third day of each succeeding month
– Payment of arrears from the 35 per cent and 25 per cent wage awards since January 2023
– Payment of outstanding promotion arrears and earned academic allowances dating back to 2011
– Remittance of N11.9 million in outstanding check-off dues owed since 2017
– Remittance of cooperative deductions amounting to N69 million
– Unpaid National Housing Fund deductions withheld since 2018
ASUU chairman, Dr Patrick Ushie, said the action followed a breakdown of dialogue with the university’s management, which cited funding constraints .
“Management told us that they currently receive N300 million as subvention from the government and would need an additional N200 million to meet our demands,” Ushie had said .
The union also wrote to Governor Bassey Otu but had not received a response at the time the strike was declared .
…Government Moves to Resolve Crisis
As the strike entered its 45th day, the state government and ASUU set up a meeting to resolve the impasse, with the union submitting documents detailing its grievances to a government technical committee .
The Governor later constituted a seven-member Technical Committee, led by Prof. Uduak Effiong, to undertake a comprehensive review of the university’s working environment, staff welfare, and governance .
On July 14, Governor Otu met with the university’s management and SUG, promising improved infrastructure and sustained engagement with stakeholders .
During that meeting, the Governor disclosed that the Vice Chancellor had requested additional operational vehicles for the university and assured the delegation that the request would be granted. He also promised to equip the University’s Medical Centre and address concerns over the institution’s road network .
…ASUU Zone Threatens Wider Strike
While the UNICROSS crisis was ongoing, ASUU Calabar Zone threatened a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike across state-owned universities in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Cross River states over the failure of state governments to implement the 2025 FG-ASUU agreement.
The union described the situation at UNICROSS as “particularly alarming,” noting that academic staff had been receiving only half salaries for years, and that one lecturer had reportedly died amid the lingering welfare crisis .
“Our members in UNICROSS are already in the trenches, not just over the non-implementation of the 2025 Agreement, but also over the non-payment of full salaries for years,” Zonal Coordinator Comrade Ikechukwu Igwenyi had said.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Student Affairs, Joseph Kelvin-Enyam, announced the suspension, expressing gratitude to the Governor for keeping his promise. He also thanked SA General Duties Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, Chief of Staff to the governor Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, the UNICROSS Vice Chancellor, ASUU leadership, and the Students’ Union Government (SUG) for their roles in resolving the crisis.
With the suspension of the UNICROSS strike, academic activities are expected to resume, bringing relief to students who had been out of school for nearly two months.
