The Alumni Association of the University of Cross River State, UNICROSS, has appealed to Governor Bassey Otu to provide bailout funds for the institution to enable it offset three months backlog of staff salaries.
National President of the association, Dr Inyali Peter, who signed a letter addressed to the governor, noted that workers in the university are still being owed April and May 2022 salaries and are also yet to be paid for November 2023.
Noting that the association will appreciate if the governor can bail the school out to clear November and December salaries, which according to him are hanging in the balance, Peter lamented the sufferings of staff who cannot afford anything for their households in this festive period due to non payment of wages.
Parts of the letter read: “I write to make a passionate appeal to His Excellency for bailout to clear three months backlog of salaries (April and May, 2022; and November , 2023) for UNICROSS staff.
“Outside the three months outstanding salary Sir, the fate of staff regarding December salary is still hanging in the balance. It is already 21st, just a few days to Christmas, and staff have only tomorrow to carry out any bank transaction to access funds.
“Most of them are running on credit facilities from different financial institutions. They can not even access any reasonable funds from their salaries. These arrears, Your Excellency, heap more misery to their condition.
“The predicament of these people is one of the challenges your administration is poised to tackle. I appeal to you, Sir, to look into this unsavoury situation of staff of UNICROSS and come to their rescue. We know times are hard; but please see what you can do!”
The alumni association two days ago donated 50 bags of rice to assist the university’s lecturers during the Yuletide.
Unpaid salaries: Alumni beg Gov Otu to bail out Cross River varsity