The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Council (JCC), Cross River State Chapter, speaking on behalf of the broader students community, wish to formally address the ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Cross River State Branch, which commenced on May 19, 2026 and remains unresolved to this day.
Our lecturers are not asking for charity. They are asking for what they are owed.
The University of Cross River State is a state-owned institution and the financial obligations at the heart of this crisis rest primarily with the Cross River State Government. These are not abstract demands, they are documented and specific including Outstanding salaries, arrears, Welfare levy deductions, Outstanding check-off dues, Cooperative deduction, Outstanding promotion arrears and earned academic allowances accrued from July 2011 till date.
These monies represent years of financial abandonment of an institution and its people. The consequences are borne by over twenty-five thousand young Cross Riverian Students whose academic calendars are being delayed,, whose families are under financial strain, and whose futures are being deferred by government inaction.
We therefore call on:
1. The Cross River State Government, as the sole proprietor of this institution, to immediately fulfill its financial obligations to UNICROSS staff, including all outstanding salaries, welfare arrears, promotion arrears, and unremitted deductions, so that academic activities can resume without further delay.
2. His Excellency, Governor Bassey Otu to personally intervene and direct the administrators of the state’s educational sector to treat this crisis with the urgency it deserves. The students of Cross River State are watching.
3. The UNICROSS Management to intensify its engagement with ASUU leadership and communicate progress transparently to the student community.
4. The Cross River State House of Assembly to exercise its oversight function and compel the Executive to prioritize education funding immediately.
We hereby issue a 10-day ultimatum, from today, June 10, 2026, to the relevant State Government to commence concrete, verifiable steps toward the resolution of this crisis. Should this ultimatum expire without meaningful government response, the student community, under the auspices of NANS, will be left with no option but to mobilize for mass action.
We will act because the future of Cross River cannot wait.
E-signed
Victor Antigha Asuquo
Chairman, NANS JCC Cross River State Chapter
CC:
– Executive Governor, Cross River State
– Chairman CRSHA Committee on Education
– Commissioner for Education, Cross River State
– Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Affairs
– Vice Chancellor, University of Cross River State
– National President, NANS
– Vice President, Special Duties, NANS
– Coordinator, NANS Zone B (South South)
– Executive President, Students Union Government, University of Cross River State
– Executive President, NACRISS Unicross Chapter
– Cross River State Police Command Cross River State Police command
Hope you find the Above publication useful, Calabargist will love to keep you updated via our newsletter by subscribing with your email.
