University of Cross River (UNICROSS) formerly known as Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) has been thrown into confusion as the Vice Chancellor, Professor Augustine Oko Angba, is reportedly suspended.
The suspension is said to have been decided by the university’s Governing Council on Monday, May 6th, 2024, during the school’s Governing Council meeting held at the main campus, Calabar.
The cause of the sudden suspension is allegedly linked to activities of gross misconduct, and on the heels of a vote-of-no-confidence passed by some staff members of the university on January 17, 2024. These staff members were protesting the non-payment of five months’ salary arrears and had carried placards with slogans like “This Management and the VC must go” and “We don’t want them any longer.” Angba had previously criticized the staff unions, claiming that four members had hijacked the union and incited others to protest on the streets.
In the same vein, the Governing Council has appointed Professor Stephen Oshang, from the Faculty of Agriculture, to serve as the acting Vice-Chancellor until further notice. Oshang will take over the responsibilities previously held by Professor Angba.
Efforts to reach the university’s spokesperson, Mr. Onen Onen, for comments on the matter were unsuccessful, as his phone line was not answered at the time of filing this report. Similarly, Professor Angba’s phone line was busy when contacted. The Governing Council’s decision suggests that they found merit in the allegations against the embattled Vice-Chancellor.
