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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Calabar zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened a total and indefinite strike across four state universities over what it called “chronic neglect” of its members.
Ikechuku Igwenyi, Calabar zonal chairman, issued the warning in a statement issued after its congress at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS).
The statement was signed by Igwenyi, national officer of the union, Dr. Happiness Uduk and eight branch chairmen within the zone.
“The Calabar Zonal leadership of ASUU sadly alerts well-meaning Nigerians that it cannot guarantee industrial harmony and should not be held responsible when internal mechanisms collapse,” the statement said.
The affected institutions are Abia State University, ABSU; Akwa Ibom State University, AKSU; Ebonyi State University, EBSU; and UNICROSS.
“This alarm is to warn the administrations, governing councils and relevant government authorities that continued neglect of staff welfare and breach of signed agreements will push these universities to the brink of a total, comprehensive and indefinite industrial action.”
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The zone noted that since the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, only UNICROSS has recorded partial implementation. ABSU, AKSU and EBSU, he said, has not implemented any component, including payment of Earned Academic Allowances, EAA. “Despite years of patience and uncommon maturity by our members, the university environment in these institutions has become untenable,” he said. “Our members are no less than their counterparts in other universities where the agreement has been fully implemented.”
It listed the zone’s grievances to include non-payment of academic allowances, chronic salary delays, withholding of third-party deductions such as union dues, cooperative savings and NHF contributions, and the erosion of living standards amid record inflation.
“These branches incubate a catalogue of grievances that remain ‘refrigerated’ and unaddressed,” it said.
It added that the union could no longer guarantee industrial peace “while our members cannot afford basic costs of living.”
“This is not merely a dispute over figures; it is a fight for the survival of the university system and the dignity of the men and women who sustain the future.”
ASUU Calabar Zone warned that if the demands remain unmet, it would be forced to commence a comprehensive and total strike.
The union called on the federal and state governments, traditional rulers, parents and other stakeholders to intervene immediately to avert a shutdown.
