We can reliably inform that since 2.00 pm today, Tuesday, November 8, 2017, students of the Cross River State University of Technology, CRUTECH, Calabar campus have gone head to head with members of the CRUTECH chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, over the decision of the latter to resume indefinitely, a strike action, initially suspended as they press for the payment of earned academic allowances, running into several millions of naira, owed ASUU by the Cross River State Government, among other demands.
While attempts have been made by management led by the Vice-Chancellor, Anthony Owan Enoh and Governing Council chairman, Emil Inyang, to pacify the rampaging students, some of the students who spoke to www.calitown.com maintained that with the second semester examinations just around the corner, the strike action will mean that several final year students will be unable to graduate as at when due. But ASUU members maintain that this strike action which is internal “… will help us address the reductions and check-up dues which have accumulated massively, irregular payment of our salaries, the complete absence of facilities for conducive learning and several other things that I cannot mention in a hurry to you people”, as one ASUU source submitted. The strike action will paralyze academic activities in the institution’s four campuses.
… more details shortly.
A hungry man is an angry man. The students should see Lecturers as partners and collaborate with them to ensure that CRS government do the needful, by looking into the flight of the lecturers in addition to improving academic facilities. No responsible lecturer nor union will find joy disrupting the very system nor society he is paid to nurture. A true academia is often in a sober state when compelled in the name of strike to withdraw his service. In U.K. one of our Professors who was forcefully retired after 57 years of teaching at age 80. Pleaded to be allowed to teach free. Teaching is an addiction, and a teaching addict never, never and will never nurture a break unless compelled by circumstances beyond her control. ASSU strike is never a dilemma for many teaching addicts.
Prof. C. I. MBOTO