This obviously is not the best of times for state owned tertiary institutions in Cross River State. The institutions, Cross River State University of Technology, CRUTECH, College of Education at Akamkpa and the College of Agriculture at Obubra, are in serious financial straits. Investigations by Newsworld have shown that both teaching and non-teaching equipment in these institutions are obsolete.Last year, academic activities in these institutions were disrupted for several months as a result of industrial actions embarked upon by labour unions over non-payment of salaries. The unions are also threatening to embark on another industrial action to compel the state government to implement the agreement reached with them. The chairman of CRUTECH branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Dr. Nsing Ogar told this magazine that the state government is yet to implement ‘vital components’ contained in the agreement reached with the union. These include: adequate funding, university autonomy and conditions of service of staff. “Government has failed to show commitment in the adequate funding of the university. Budgetary allocations to education have continued to decrease in serious violation of the terms of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement,” Dr. Ogar stated. At the moment, staff of the state college of education are on strike to protest government’s failure to implement the agreement reached with three industrial unions in the college. The unions - Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU; Senior Staff Union of College of Education of Nigeria, SSUCOEN and the Non Academic Staff Union, NASU – in a joint statement  accused the state government of failing to fulfill “its statutory obligations as contained in the edict establishing the college.” The labour leaders are also protesting the non-implementation of the consolidated polytechnics and colleges of education academic staff salary structure, CONPCASS, and the consolidated tertiary institutions salary structure, CONTEDISS, to members after government promised to start payment by March this year. “We tried unsuccessfully to resolve the issues in conflict. The staff have run the college with a degenerating morale and a depleted income in spite of the outrageous inflationary trend in the country,” the statement added. The institution has been under lock and key for several months now despite the intervention of the traditional rulers council and other well meaning citizens of the state. The incessant industrial actions by the state government-owned tertiary institutions are impacting negatively on the state’s education sector. A retired staff of the state College of Education, Mr. Onun Bassey told Newsworld that the college has lost its best brains as a result of poor remuneration. The situation is taking its toll on the students who have been forced to stay beyond their supposed graduation  period.The poor financial situation of Cross River State-owned tertiary institutions started two years ago following the loss of the state’s oil wells to the neighbouring Akwa Ibom State. At a time government considered merging the college of education and the college of agriculture to cut cost while some civil servants were to be deployed to classrooms.  It is not only Cross River State -owned tertiary institutions that are in crisis. The federal government-owned University of Calabar, UNICAL, has been under lock and key since September,  this year following protest by students of the university over increase in school fees.  But the institution’s vice-chancellor, Professor James Epoke blamed the protest on “fifth columnists” and “external forces” that were bent on discrediting him. Professor Epoke who was appointed vice-chancellor few months ago was said to have introduced stern measures to curb the ‘deep rooted’ corruption in the institution. This is said to have gone down well with some of the staff of the institution. UNICAL was noted for admission and certificate racketeering.A student who spoke to this magazine, however, accused the vice-chancellor of executing “anti-students” policies. The student, who pleaded anonymity, said “the arbitrary fee increase and the poor security situation on campus caused the spontaneous reaction by the students. He said  that what angered the students the more was that the vice-chancellor gave students ultimatum to pay the new fees without considering the present economic situation in the country. “They are not bothered about students’ welfare. We have been chased out of the hostels and the authorities are not concerned about the difficulties we will face in getting alternative accommodation. Now, they have issued another ultimatum for students to pay the N10, 000 illegally imposed on them,” he added. The universities  authority have  shifted the resumption date to January next year following the rumour that the students might embark on another protest on resumption of academic activities.

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