UNICROSS ASUU: Indefinite Strike Resumption Over Unpaid Salaries

• ASUU UNICROSS has resumed an indefinite strike due to the Cross River State government's failure to pay two months' salaries and implement prior agreements.
• The decision followed an emergency congress after a 90-day window granted by Governor Bassey Otu expired without the union's demands being met.
• Lecturers are owed September and October salaries, and the 2025 agreement with ASUU remains unfulfilled.
• All academic services, including teaching and supervision, have been withdrawn by union members.
• ASUU leadership stated they would return to work immediately if all outstanding salaries and agreements are fulfilled.

This significant development, leading to the UNICROSS ASUU indefinite strike resumption, follows an emergency congress convened on Monday at the Prefab Hall of the university's main campus in Calabar, where the decision to resume the strike was formally made.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) has once again initiated an indefinite industrial action, citing the Cross River State government's failure to disburse two months' worth of salaries and its non-compliance with previously agreed-upon terms. This significant development, leading to the UNICROSS ASUU indefinite strike resumption, follows an emergency congress convened on Monday at the Prefab Hall of the university's main campus in Calabar, where the decision to resume the strike was formally made.

The union's leadership confirmed the renewed industrial action on Tuesday, expressing profound disappointment with the government's perceived lack of commitment. Dr. Patrick Ushie, the ASUU chairman, highlighted that the non-payment of September and October entitlements constitutes a primary driver for the current dispute. He emphasized that these payments are not discretionary gifts but earned salaries, underscoring the severity of the ASUU salary arrears UNICROSS lecturers are facing.

This latest escalation in the Cross River State government ASUU dispute stems from the expiration of a 90-day grace period that Governor Bassey Otu had extended in July. During that time, the governor engaged with both the union's leadership and the university management, aiming to resolve the ongoing issues and persuade lecturers to suspend their previous strike. The understanding was that the state government would address the union's grievances within this timeframe.

However, the 90-day window concluded on October 21 without the government fully satisfying the union's demands, particularly regarding the implementation of the 2025 agreement reached with ASUU and other outstanding welfare concerns. Dr. Ushie lamented the government's failure to honor its commitments, stating that the previous strike suspension was contingent on this intervention, which ultimately proved insufficient.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has made it clear that the current industrial action will persist indefinitely until the state government fully implements the 2025 agreement and resolves all outstanding welfare issues affecting its members. Dr. Ushie has issued a directive for all union members to cease their services, explicitly stating, "No teaching, no supervision, no anything that affects our teaching staff," thereby halting all academic activities at the University of Cross River State.

Furthermore, the ASUU chairman dismissed circulating rumors about the government having approved the payment of some outstanding entitlements, explaining that there has been no official communication to confirm the release of such funds. He noted that even if approval was granted months ago, it was not followed through. Despite the firm stance, the union has indicated its readiness to resume work immediately, provided that all outstanding salaries and other agreements are fulfilled, underscoring the critical importance for public institutions and state governments in Nigeria to meticulously adhere to collective bargaining agreements and ensure timely payment of employee salaries to avoid protracted industrial disputes and potential legal challenges arising from breach of contract or labor laws.

This development highlights the critical importance for public institutions and state governments in Nigeria to meticulously adhere to collective bargaining agreements and ensure timely payment of employee salaries to avoid protracted industrial disputes and potential legal challenges arising from breach of contract or labor laws.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH