Cross River University ASUU Resumes Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid Salaries

Lecturers at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) have withdrawn their services again after a government deadline to resolve outstanding salary payments and other welfare concerns expired without a full resolution.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNICROSS branch announced the resumption of its indefinite industrial action following an emergency congress held on Monday at the university’s Prefab Hall on the Calabar main campus.

The decision followed the expiration of a 90-day window reportedly granted by Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu in July to address the dispute and persuade the lecturers to suspend their earlier strike.

Why Has UNICROSS ASUU Resumed the Strike?

The branch chairman, Dr Patrick Ushie, said the renewed industrial action was prompted by the government's failure to honour its promises and address outstanding welfare issues affecting academic staff.

The union stated that the 90 day period elapsed on October 21 without the government fully meeting its demands.

Ushie also disclosed that lecturers were owed two months' salaries covering September and October 2026. He expressed concern that the outstanding payments remained unresolved despite earlier assurances from the state government.

Will Academic Activities Continue at UNICROSS?

The union has directed its members to withdraw their services until the government addresses their grievances.

The directive covers teaching, supervision and other activities involving academic staff, indicating that the industrial action could disrupt lectures and other academic engagements at the institution.

ASUU maintained that the strike would continue indefinitely until the outstanding salaries were paid and the relevant agreements and welfare demands were addressed.

However, the union expressed its willingness to return to work once the government fulfils its commitments. Ushie indicated that lecturers would resume duties promptly if the outstanding payments and other issues were resolved.

The latest development marks another setback for academic activities at the state-owned university following the earlier strike that was suspended after the governor's intervention in July.