Yuletide: UNICROSS VC Holidays In UK As Staff Groan Over 4 Months Unpaid Salaries
By Ndifreke BASSEY
The Vice Chancellor of University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Professor Augustine Angba, is said to be holidaying in United Kingdom (UK) this Yuletide even as staff of the institution are groaning under four months unpaid salaries, THE BEAGLE NEWS can authoritatively report.
Investigations by THE BEAGLE NEWS revealed that the VC jetted out of the country a few days to Christmas even as top government officials have repeatedly warned him against excessive and frivolous oversea trips that do not bring in any foreign investment to the school or state either.
Sources close to the management revealed that Angba, since assumption of office, has made overseas travelling some of his past times and it is costing the institution a fortune.
THE BEAGLE NEWS gathered from a reliable source in the UNICROSS account's department that each overseas trip costs between N4m and N5m at the expense of the institution.
It was further gathered that the VC's family have relocated to UK, thus the frequent visit even as it is speculated that Prof. Angba has bought a property worth several millions of Naira.
UNICROSS remains the only institution in the state that is owed for about four months including April, May 2022 November and December 2023.
Worried by this development, Governor Bassey Otu, last week, met with UNICROSS management to find a solution to the salaries imbroglio, but the meeting could not arrive at any positive solution because the VC was not in the country to respond to some irreconcilable issues with regard to the backlog of salaries.
Some of the staff, who spoke to THE BEAGLE NEWS, said the situation has become very unbearable, forcing them to go cap in hand begging some political office holders and friends for survival.
According to them, they had to resort to taking overdraft from their banks and even sending their children to go on forced holiday to the village during the Christmas celebration to reduce economic pressure.
They decried the ugly situation and wonders why authourities should mete out such punishment to them at this harsh economy, saying that they may be forced to embark on an indefinite strike to press home their demands.
A staff, who simply gave his name as Agbor Agbor, said: "Former Governor Ben Ayade sent subvention for March, April, May 2022 only March this year 2023 when it almost became and industrial issues with the unions.
" Now workers have proceeded on Yuletide without payment of November and December salaries of 2023 making it four months.
"The University for now is sitting on a keg of gun powder as every one is set for massive protest to embarrass management and government of over insensitivity to staff's welfare while the VC enjoys himself in UK."
As at the press time, calls put across the VC mobile number was not going through.
Meanwhile, the University of Cross River State Alumni Association has called on Governor Bassey Otu to give the staff bailout to offset backlog of salaries.
National President of the association, Dr. Inyali Peter, noted that the association will greatly appreciate if the Governor can bail the school out to clear November and December salaries which he said is hanging in the balance, while lamenting the sufferings of staff who cannot afford anything for their household in this festive period due to non payment of salaries.
"I write to make a passionate appeal to His Excellency for bailout to clear three months backlog of salaries (April and May, 2022; and November , 2023) for UNICROSS staff. Outside the three months outstanding salary Sir, the fate of staff regarding December salary is still hanging in the balance. It is already 21st, just a few days to Christmas, and staff have only tomorrow to carry out any bank transaction to access funds.
"Most of them are running on credit facilities from different financial institutions. They can not even access any reasonable funds from their salaries. These arrears, Your Excellency, heap more misery to their condition."
The Alumni added that "it is disheartening to imagine what households of UNICROSS staff are going through, especially this yuletide season, where love, happiness, and festivities feel the air.
"I am not oblivious of the liabilities your administration inherited and the present financial situation the State is passing through. But, Your Excellency, the 'People First' mantra has inspired you to devise several creative ways to make Cross Riverians feel the impact of the Season of Sweetness."
