FOR over three weeks, the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) has remained under lock and key with the three unions of the institution calling for the immediate removal from office of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Eka Braide.

The three unions, which also unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on the vice chancellor, said their stand is premised on her alleged demonstrated incompetence and highhandedness in handling the affairs of the university.

But in a quick response, the Commissiner for Education, Professor Offiong Offiong said the state government has waded into the matter as it concerns salary and which he promised would soon be resolved. He however declined to comment on the issue of removal.

The eight-point communiqu�, taken on February 25 by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) at the end of its joint meeting in Calabar insisted on the implementation of their demands, else the strike action would continue.

Other decisions include, "immediate implementation of the Consolidated Salary Structure of Tertiary Institutions (CONTIIS) as obtainable in other Nigerian Universities. The unions also unanimously rejected the proposed Enhanced Universities Salary Structure (EUSS) for CRUTECH staff.

"Immediate payment of arrears of monetization from 1st October 2003 to April 2007, payment of the arrears of 22% on HATISS 4, payment of the arrears of the of the difference between EUSS and UASS were also contained in the communique.

The unions also called for the payment of examination and administration allowance for SSANU and NASU and teaching practice allowance for ASUU and immediate payment of all promotion arrears.

The congress "observed with dismay the exodus of high profile lecturers and other experienced administrative and accounting staff arising from the non implementation of monetization and CONTISS as obtained in other universities"

The unions expressed concern that "if immediate action is not taken by government, before long the university will become empty. The University like all other institutions of its caliber deserves the nationally approved wages".

The Commissioner noted that since the crisis began, two meetings have been held with the three Unions and "we have started looking at their demands critically, particularly the ones that have to do with salary", www.naijacampus.com

He said "we have to know the full implication of the demands on salary before we advise the governor on it".

Professor Offiong however lamented that with the strike action the relevant officers can not have access to documents and data to do proper costing and this is causing delay in resolving the crises.

The Commissioner expressed optimism that if the Unions corperate with government the matter will be esolved soon.

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