UNICROSS Lecturers Embark on Indefinite Strike Over Salary, Welfare Disputes
By Benjamin GBOR
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Cross River State branch, has suspended academic activities indefinitely over unresolved salary and staff welfare issues.
The decision was reached during the union’s congress held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, and communicated in Strike Bulletin No. 1 signed by the branch chairman, Dr. Patrick O. Ushie.
According to the union, the industrial action took immediate effect following the failure of the university management, governing council, and government to implement agreements earlier reached with ASUU, particularly the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU renegotiated agreement.
ASUU said the action became necessary due to unresolved financial and administrative matters affecting lecturers in the institution.
Among the demands raised by the union are the immediate implementation of the 2025 FG-ASUU agreement, including salary adjustments and welfare packages such as CATA, EAA, and other professional allowances effective from January 1, 2026, alongside payment of accrued arrears.
The union also demanded the implementation of all non-financial aspects of the agreement and called for improved government funding for the university.
ASUU further insisted that staff salaries should be paid on or before the third day of every succeeding month.
The lecturers equally demanded payment of all outstanding salaries and arrears arising from the 35 per cent and 25 per cent wage award implemented in public universities since January 2023.
According to the strike bulletin, Special Support Fund deductions made in 2024 and 2025 amounting to ₦2.154 million are yet to be remitted.
The union also alleged that outstanding check-off dues owed to both the ASUU-UNICROSS branch and ASUU national since 2017 amount to ₦11.8 million, including deductions for November 2025 and December 2024 which remain unpaid.
ASUU further demanded the remittance of ₦69 million allegedly deducted from staff cooperative contributions.
Other demands include payment of promotion arrears estimated at over ₦1 billion, earned academic allowances amounting to ₦45 million accrued between July 2011 and December 2017, as well as remittance of unpaid National Housing Fund deductions to the Federal Mortgage Bank.
The union stated that all administrative appointments within the institution must strictly comply with conditions of service.
It further directed members to boycott all academic meetings, including Senate, departmental, faculty, and council meetings, while lecturers are also barred from teaching or maintaining academic contact with students during the strike period.
The union, however, noted that research and community service activities may continue.
Describing the strike as “total and indefinite,” ASUU urged members to rely only on official information from the branch leadership and attend congress meetings promptly.
