By Frank Ulom
Academic activities at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) face disruption following the declaration of a total and indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNICROSS branch, over alleged failure by authorities to implement agreements reached with the union.
The industrial action was announced in Strike Bulletin No. 1 issued after a congress of the union held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The bulletin, signed by Branch Chairperson, Dr Patrick O. Ushie, stated that the strike took immediate effect.
According to the union, the action followed unresolved issues surrounding the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU renegotiated agreement and other welfare-related demands affecting academic staff of the institution.
ASUU-UNICROSS said the university management, governing council and the Cross River State Government had allegedly failed to address key financial and administrative concerns, making the strike unavoidable.
Among its demands, the union called for immediate implementation of the 2025 FG-ASUU renegotiated agreement, including salary structures and welfare benefits such as CATA, EAA and professional allowances, effective from January 1, 2026, with payment of accrued arrears.
The union also demanded implementation of the non-financial components of the agreement without delay and urged increased government funding for the university.
ASUU further insisted that monthly salaries of lecturers must be paid promptly on or before the third day of every succeeding month, while demanding payment of unpaid salaries and arrears linked to the 35 per cent and 25 per cent wage award implemented in public universities since January 2023.
According to the strike bulletin, welfare levy deductions described as Special Support Fund deductions made in 2024 and 2025, amounting to ₦2,154,000, should be remitted immediately.
The union also alleged that outstanding arrears of check-off dues owed to the ASUU-UNICROSS branch and ASUU National since 2017 amount to ₦11,868,859.67, including deductions for November 2025 and December 2024 which have yet to be remitted.
It further demanded the remittance of ₦69 million deducted from staff cooperative contributions.
Other demands listed by the union include payment of outstanding promotion arrears estimated at over ₦1 billion, earned academic allowances amounting to ₦45 million accrued between July 2011 and December 2017, and remittance of unpaid National Housing Fund deductions to the Federal Mortgage Bank.
ASUU-UNICROSS also called for strict adherence to conditions of service regarding administrative appointments within the institution.
“The strike is total and indefinite,” the bulletin declared, adding that during the industrial action there would be no academic meetings, including Senate, departmental, faculty and council meetings.
Lecturers were also directed not to teach or maintain academic contact with students throughout the strike period.
However, the union noted that research and community service activities may continue while the industrial action lasts.
ASUU advised its members to rely only on official information from the branch leadership and urged them to attend congress meetings promptly.
