ASUU UNICROSS embarks on indefinite strike over welfare, agreement breach

By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Cross River (UNICROSS) chapter, has commenced an indefinite strike over the failure of the institution’s management to implement the salary structure and other welfare benefits of academic staff.

In a statement by its Chairman, Dr Patrick Ushie, the union listed several demands, including the implementation of the non-financial components of the 2025 ASUU-FG renegotiated agreement without further delay.

The union is also demanding increased government funding to the university and prompt payment of monthly salaries not later than the third day of each succeeding month.

It further called for the immediate payment of all unpaid salaries and arrears of the 35 and 25 percent wage awards implemented in public universities since January 2023.

“All outstanding 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 delay,” the statement said.

The union also demanded payment of “outstanding promotion arrears and earned academic allowances accrued from July 2011 to December 2017 of the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement” to eligible staff.

Dr Ushie said the decision to embark on the total and indefinite industrial action followed the breakdown of dialogue with the university management after several meetings failed to yield results.

“They (Management) told us that their hands are tied as they don’t have the funds to implement our demands.

“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,” he said.

“The union also wrote to the Cross River State Governor, but has yet to receive any response.

“Until our demands are met in full, the industrial action remains total and indefinitely,” Dr Ushie declared.

Attempts to get the reaction of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francesca Bassey, were unsuccessful as she neither picked her calls nor responded to text messages sent to her mobile number.

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