Calabar, October 25, 2024 – Lecturers at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) have taken to the campus to protest the institution’s failure to pay them a six-month backlog of a government-approved monthly palliative.
CONVERSEER reports that the N10,000 monthly stipend, introduced by the Cross River State Government to aid workers in the challenging economic climate, has reportedly not been distributed to the university’s lecturers.
A lecturer, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that management has withheld the funds, creating significant financial strain for academic staff.
Tensions reached a boiling point as lecturers, numbering in the hundreds, gathered in front of the administrative block. Chanting slogans like “We want our money” and “No pay, no work,” they demanded the immediate presence of Vice Chancellor Prof. David Ogar to address their grievances.
When the Vice Chancellor did not initially appear, the protesting lecturers marched to his office, questioning why the palliative funds were reportedly allocated to procure mini-buses instead. The lecturers described the reallocation as “inhumane” and “unacceptable,” demanding their full entitlements.
In response, Prof. Ogar eventually addressed the crowd, asking for patience and promising a resolution. He pledged that management would begin payments with an initial three-month instalment, with plans to settle the remaining balance within two weeks.