UNICROSS Staff Protest Non-Payment of 3 Months Arrears of Salaries, Demand Sack Of VC
By Ndifreke BASSEY
The staff of University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) have protested against non-payment of outstanding three months' salary arrears and other welfare packages.
The staff are piqued that the Vice Chancellor, Professor Augustine Angba, has once again, reneged on his earlier promise of at least paying December salary before the end of 2023. UNICROSS staff were owed for four months including April, May 2022 November and December 2023. But November 2023 salary was paid in late December leaving the workers with a backlog of three months salaries.
THE BEAGLE NEWS had reported early in January that the staff had concluded plans to embark on industrial action to press home their demand for better condition of service.
A reliable source close to ASUU leadership said the Congress had endorsed strike as the last option of declaring an industrial action in protest against the treatment meted out to their members. It was gathered that the delay in payment of December salary was allegedly as a result of Governor Bassey Otu's refusal to release the December subvention to the UNICROSS authourities.
It was learned that the government had set up a panel to look into the books of UNICROSS and government is not palatable with their findings, leading to subtle call for the auditing of the institution's accounts. The Government is piqued at the inability of the UNICROSS management to submit necessary documents demand by government to enable (them) ascertain the true position of things at the state's institution.
In the light of the above, the staff took to the streets of Calabar and took their protest to the House Of Assembly Complex, seen chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards which conveyed their grievances towards the ugly position they are in.
The protesters insisted that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Augustine Angba, must go, adding that he enjoys himself offshore while their wages remain unpaid and they're left to suffer helplessly with their families even throughout the festivities.
Addressing the protesters at Assembly complex, the Speaker of Cross River State House Of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, (UNICROSS), urged them to remain focused on their responsibilities and dedicated to their duties with confidence knowing that their plea has reached the zenith and will receive maximum solution.
The speaker, who appreciated the protesters for peaceful conduct assured that he will virtually speak with VC and then relay to the state Governor Prince Bassey Otu, who is a people-focused Governor, promising that the Governor will surely solve the problem as he always does.
