The University of Cross River Alumni association has directed its legal team to institute a court action to stop the government from further funding activities and claims of the Governing Council of the institution.

The association announced this in a communiqué at the end of its National Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.

In the communiqué signed by the association’s National Secretary, Njang Ndoma, in Calabar on Thursday, the association called on Governor Bassey Otu to consider immediate dissolution of the council.

It accused the council of pressurising the finances of the institution by calling for “unnecessary meetings to draw sitting allowances for members to the detriment of staff welfare.”

The alumni called on the governor to reconstitute the council, to appoint individuals familiar with the university system.

It further added that for almost four years, the council attracted zero funds and projects to the university.

The alumni reaffirmed its support for the efforts of the governor to reposition the institution for better service delivery.

Insisting on the supremacy of the law establishing the university, the body stated that organs of the institution, including the Governing Council, should respect the laws at all times.

The communiqué stated, “The council as presently constituted, is incapable, incompetent of doing its work and is not serving the interest of the university. Since the inauguration of the council on June 6, 2020, the council has attracted nothing to the university; rather, it has been putting pressure on the finances of the university by calling unnecessary sittings to draw allowances to enrich members.”

It said if reconstituted, the new council “must have capacity to attract funds, projects, and to formulate policies for smooth implementation of the “People’s First Agenda” mantra of the governor for the institution.”

The alumni also called on Mr Otu to investigate activities of the council members relating to contract approvals, execution and the resources expended in holding the “unnecessary frequent sittings.”

(NAN)