ASUU UNICROSS cautions school authority against misuse of TETFund

ASUU UNICROSS cautions school authority against misuse of TETFund

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Cross River State (UNICROSS, has cautioned the school authority against the misuse of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, allocations.

They have insisted that the intervention funds must be deployed strictly for research and academic development in the university.

The warning was issued by the Chairman of ASUU-UNICROSS, Dr Patrick Ushie, during a solidarity march held on Tuesday at the institution’s main campus in Calabar in support of the national leadership of ASUU.

Dr Ushie explained that while the union aligns with its national body over alleged maltreatment of lecturers by the federal government, local concerns remain pressing.

He stressed the need for the regular payment of salaries at UNICROSS and strict adherence to the TETFUND Act.

The union also renewed calls for the immediate signing and implementation of the draft renegotiated 2009 agreement, urging state governors as visitors to state-owned universities to domesticate and implement its provisions.

The demands highlighted at the rally include: Payment of promotion arrears, full implementation of mainstreamed Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and removal of threats to university autonomy and academic freedom.

Other demands are the, review of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act to address existing lapses, an end to the victimization of ASUU members at Prince Abubakar Audu University, Kogi; Lagos State University; and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri as well as Constitution of a Governing Council at Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU), amongst others.

They called for the reinforcement of the spirit of unity.

Dr Ushie stated, “We re-echo these demands in the conviction that solidarity is not about pretending our situations are identical, but about standing together so that progress anywhere becomes progress everywhere. As the adage says: one hand washes the other, and together they wash the face.”

ASUU UNICROSS cautions school authority against misuse of TETFund