Cross River ASUU Strike – The Trumpet Newspaper Nigeria

The University of Cross River branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-month-old strike.

The union had commenced an indefinite strike on May 19, 2026, grounding academic activities and leaving thousands of students stranded.

Levturers had embarked on the industrial action over 11 demands bordering on staff welfare, salary arrears, and the non-implementation of agreements reached between ASUU and the federal government.

Among the union’s key demands were the implementation of the salary structure and welfare provisions contained in the 2025 FG-ASUU renegotiated agreement, including the continuous academic training allowance, earned academic allowance, and other professional allowances.

The lecturers also demanded increased government funding for the university, prompt payment of monthly salaries not later than the third day of every succeeding month, and the payment of arrears arising from the 35 percent and 25 percent wage awards dating back to January 2023.

Other outstanding issues included unpaid promotion arrears and earned academic allowances dating back to 2011, remittance of N11.9 million in check-off dues owed since 2017, N69 million in cooperative deductions, and unpaid National Housing Fund deductions withheld since 2018.

The ASUU Chairman, Patrick Ushie, had accused the university’s management of failing to address the union’s concerns, citing inadequate funding as a major challenge.

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According to him, the management had disclosed that it received N300 million as monthly subvention from the state government and required an additional N200 million to meet the union’s demands.

As the strike entered its 45th day, the Cross River State government intensified efforts to broker peace between the university’s management and ASUU.

The union submitted detailed documentation of its grievances to a government technical committee set up to examine the issues in contention.

Governor Bassey Otu subsequently constituted a seven-member technical committee, chaired by Prof. Uduak Effiong, to conduct a comprehensive review of the university’s working environment, staff welfare, and governance structure.

On July 14, the governor met with the university’s management and leaders of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), where he assured stakeholders of his administration’s commitment to improving infrastructure and sustaining dialogue with all parties.

During the meeting, Governor Otu approved the request by the vice chancellor for additional operational vehicles and promised to equip the university’s medical centre and address concerns over the institution’s road network, among others

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