ASUU protests over unpaid salaries in UNICAL
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Calabar branch, has staged a peaceful protest to demand the payment of their eight months’ salary arrears from the federal government.
Chairman of the union in UNICAL, John Edor, who led other members on the protest on Wednesday in Calabar, said members of the union were paid for 18 days, describing the payment as “daily payment” for workers.
He said ASUU insisted on revitalising universities and the welfare of university staff should be improved.
According to him, the non-payment of the withheld salary arrears has continued to cause untold hardship for the lecturers.
“The work that they said we have not done, we have done it now, and the examination of the first semester of 2020/2021 has been concluded.
“We were eligible for full payment for October; beyond that, we are asking for the payment of the withheld months.
“Some members of our union have started receiving salaries, and the report we are getting is not favourable to us,” he said.
Responding, the vice chancellor of UNICAL, Florence Obi, commended the lecturers for their peaceful demonstration.
Ms Obi said the federal government was working towards putting necessary facilities in place to upgrade the status of public universities.
According to her, the university system should be revitalised in such a way that it will compete favourably with other universities across the world.
“It is sad that while we were on strike agitating for a better condition of service and an improvement of the facilities, our salaries were withheld.
“However, there have been several meetings behind the scene, and well-meaning Nigerians have been pleading with the federal government to look into our case as a special one.
“Maybe, the federal government is planning to give us our withheld salaries as partying gifts. I know that the Federal Government will do something,” she said.
The VC, who commended the lecturers for working hard to meet up with the concurrent semesters, urged them to be patient while well-meaning Nigerians continue to dialogue with the Federal Government on the matter.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
World
Henri Kagan, Kenso Soai win Nobel chemistry prize
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai.
Lagos
Passenger on board Kenya Airways Lagos-bound flight dies
A passenger on board a Kenya Airways flight from Nairobi to Lagos on Tuesday died after being unresponsive for 20 minutes before the plane landed.
Lagos
LASTMA arrests truck driver after casualties recorded in multiple-vehicle crash
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority have apprehended a truck driver following a multiple-vehicle crash that critically injured four persons.
Politics
Tinubu hails Indian PM Modi for 25 years in political power
Mr Tinubu said the “quarter-century of unbroken leadership” testified to the confidence Indians placed in Mr Modi’s ability to deliver efficient governance.
Politics
Makinde-Daura group inaugurates presidential campaign committee
The Makinde-Daura group inaugurated its National Campaign Management Committee, emphasising grassroots mobilisation to win the majority of Nigeria’s 103 million registered voters.
Economy
Tinubu govt offers 40 oil blocks as Nigeria 2026 licensing round opens
The federal government has inaugurated the 2026 oil and gas licensing round, offering 40 blocks across land, shallow water and deepwater terrains to local and foreign investors.
